The DKI Jakarta Governor's Bill Was Chosen By The President, Cost Savings Or Reserve Strategy For The Rulers To Extend Power?

Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives Lodewijk Freidrich Paulus at the DPR RI Plenary Meeting ratified the Special Region Bill for Jakarta as a proposal for the DPR initiative. in a plenary meeting, Tuesday (5/12/2023). (Arief/Man/website DPR)

The Draft Law or the Special Regional Jakarta Bill (DKI) which has been agreed to be the proposal for the DPR's initiative to cause polemics. One of the things that caught the attention of the DKI Bill was regarding the election of governors and deputy governors appointed, appointed, and dismissed by the president taking into account the DPRD's proposal.

The decision of the DKI Bill to propose the DPR's initiative was taken in the 10th Plenary Meeting of the Second Session Period of 2023-2024, at the Parliament Complex, Jakarta, Tuesday (5/12/2023).

In Article 10 Paragraph (2) of the draft DKI Bill, it is stated that the governors and deputy governors are appointed, appointed, and dismissed by the president by taking into account the DPRD's proposal or opinion.

Then in Paragraph (3), the governor and deputy governor's term of office for five years starts from the date of inauguration and thereafter can be appointed and reappointed in the same office only for one term.

The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) faction is the only one of the nine factions in the DPR to reject the bill.

The rules regarding the election of the Governor and Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta are in the spotlight of the PKS faction. Quoting Kompas, a member of the DPR from the PKS faction, Hermanto, said that the proposed election for governors, deputy governors, regents, mayors, and deputy mayors needs to be maintained in order to realize democracy more consistently.

The election for governors and deputy governors who were directly elected by the president was indeed a debate. For some part, this plan can cut the budget for the Jakarta Regional Head Election which costs quite a lot.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menkopulhakam) Mahfud MD is one of those who do not question the DKI Bill which regulates the appointment of governors by the president.

"If I don't question that, because the DPR has been arguing with the government for a long time, then the conclusion is," said Mahfud, quoted by Antara.

Mahfud suspects that there is a DKI Bill because the DPR wants to maintain Jakarta's specialty after it is no longer the nation's capital.

"Because Jakarta is considered special, it is specifically managed," said Mahfud.

Among those who reject the regulation of appointment of governor by the president is the Executive Director of Indonesia Political Opinion (IPO), Dedi Kurnia Syah. He suspects this is a bad political effort.

"After moving the capital city, Jakarta will no longer be an exclusive area, although later it will be used as a national economic center, but the DKI region will be equivalent to other regions, and the election for governor so far has not been a barrier to growth as well as the socio-political polemic," Dedi told VOI.

On the same occasion, Dedi also considered this to be President Joko Widodo's attempt to make this a 'backup strategy' to perpetuate the power of his family.

It was not without reason that Dedi threw such accusations at Jokowi. If the DKI Bill is passed then Jokowi is still serving as president, while recently the former Governor of DKI Jakarta has seemed to master many political issues, starting from the decision of the Constitutional Court which approved the advancement of Gibran Rakabuming Raka, until Jokowi signed the presidential election contestant's decision not to resign from his public office.

"So the DKI Bill could be a reserve if the power of Jokowi's family fails to be continued by Gibran. Gibran can be appointed as Governor of DKI, Kaesang and Bobby even if he has a great opportunity," explained Dedi.

"Governors who have been obtained so far are not through elections, such as Yogyakarta, need and deserve to be weighed in order to be equalized with other regional heads. That is much better than eliminating the election of governors," he added.

Agreeing with Dedi, political observer Hendri Satrio also disagrees if the Governor of Jakarta is later elected by the president. He is worried that all regions will be forced to follow similar rules in the future, thus killing democracy.

"This regime was appointed by democracy but tried to continue to destroy democracy," said Hendri when contacted by VOI.

In the midst of heavy criticism of the governor and deputy governor election rules by the president in the DKI Bill, Trisakti University Public Policy Observer Trubus Rahadiansyah actually had a positive assessment.

He believes that the elimination of the Jakarta Governor election will save the budget

"By thinking about efficiency, reducing the budget as well, so that the democracy is not wasteful, yes, the governor is immediately appointed from the center," said Trubus.

In addition to budget downsizing, Trubus also explained that the position of governor is the representative of the central government in the regions, in accordance with Article 38 paragraph (1) of Law Number 23/2014. Therefore, Trubus believes that the governor should not need to be directly elected by the people through the election.

"Because he also doesn't have direct contact with the community, what's in direct contact is the regent/mayor. What do you want to do if the governor wants to do?" Trubus said again.