Reactivation Of DPA Shows Indonesia Is An Unhealthy Country

JAKARTA A number of observers have questioned the urgency of the Legislative Body (Baleg) of the House of Representatives (DPR) to revise Law Number 19 of 2006 concerning the Presidential Advisory Council (Wantimpres) so that it returns to the Supreme Advisory Council (DPA). Is this true as an effort to'share cakes' ahead of the inauguration of the new president in October.

The revision of the Wantimpres Law proposed by the DPR is referred to as the result of the agreement of all factions in the Legislation Body (Baleg) of the DPR. The public is wondering why the revision of the Wantimpres Bill to DPA was proposed in a relatively short time and before the end of the positions of the players at Senayan.

Constitutional law observer Bivitri Susanti suspects that there are efforts to share power or thank you projects.

"I saw his intention to only share power cakes," said Bivitri, citing Kompas.

The Supreme Advisory Council (DPA) is the name used for the Presidential Advisory Council (Wantimpres) before the amendment to the 1945 Constitution. The Nomenclature of the DPA was used during the New Order, and was formed based on Article 16 of the 1945 Constitution which stated that their obligation was to advise and consider the president in running the state government.

However, the DPA was later removed through Presidential Decree number 135/M/2003 on July 31, 2003 because it was considered inefficient and its duties overlapped with other institutions.

After the fourth amendment to the 1945 Constitution, the existence of the DPA was replaced as a council placed in one Chapter III of the Government's Power of the State. Through this change, it is shown that the position of a council in charge of giving advice and considerations to the president is still being treated.

Then Law Number 19 of 2006 was born which became the basis for the existence of a deliberative council, which is now called Wantimpres. The Wantimpres was first formed by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

There are a number of regulatory changes in the Wantimpres Law which are still in effect through the Wantimpres Bill.

The first is related to the number of DPA members. In Article 7 paragraph 1 of the draft Law on Wantimpres, the president is free to determine the number of DPA members. Previously, Wantimpres contained only nine people.

The second is about the position of DPA which will become an institution whose position is equal to that of other state institutions. In addition, the Wantimpres Bill also states that there is no obligation for DPA members to have certain expertise in the government sector, as well as leaders of political parties to mass organizations to become DPA.

When the public is skeptical of the DPR's decision to give birth to a bill in just a short time, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) researcher Prof. Dr. Siti Zuhro said it was very likely that would happen.

However, he questioned the urgency of changing the nomenclature of Wantimpres to DPA. According to Zuhro, so far there have been a number of institutions born since the reform era experienced dysfunction.

"Try to evaluate again, in the reform era, many institutions have experienced dysfunction, many institutions have been created but have functioned," said Zuhro, citing Kompas.

This function indicates that Indonesia is an unhealthy country. If the dysfunction is permanent, it will lead us to a failed state or country," he continued.

That way, Zuhro said it was irrelevant for the Legislative Council of the House of Representatives to revive the DPA, replacing Wantimpres.

"What is the significance, what is the relevance, what is the urgency to carry out a number of revisions of the law at the end of Jokowi's administration. We have to ask questions," said Zuhro.

Similarly, state administrative law expert Dian Puji Simatupang also said that Wantimpres has no function. This is because those who are included in Wantimpres are usually former ministers, retired state officials, or people who obey the president.

That is why he doubts the Wantimpres or DPA to provide advice and considerations that are against the president.

"If a member of Wantimpres only accommodates the former president's subordinates or becomes a pension shelter, how do you want to advise his boss?" he said.

Allegations related to efforts to divide power emerged after the revision of the Wantimpres Law was discussed in a short time by the Legislative Council until it was decided that it would be brought to the plenary session and become a parliamentary initiative.

President Joko Widodo is also said to be a member of the DPA when President-elect Prabowo Subianto replaces his position starting next October.

Political observer from UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Adi Prayitno, reminded that this decision is not just to distribute power cakes.

"Don't get the impression that this DPA just wants to accommodate a much bigger political group. That should be avoided," said Adi.

He also suspected that the discourse of reviving the DPA was a continuation of the club's identical identity which wanted to accommodate the former presidents. The president of the club is expected to contribute ideas to the Prabowo Subianto - Gibran Rakabuming Raka government.

"It's natural that if the public sees that recently the change of Wantimpres to DPA is part of increasing the coalition by summarizing the thoughts that are considered contributive to the upcoming government, but that was an impression that the division of power must be minimized and even eliminated," said Adi.