Sufmi Dasco Ahmad Proactive In National Issues, Legislative And Executive Tasks Become Ambigu

President Prabowo Subianto and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Sufmi Dasco Ahmad are talking after the inauguration of the minister. (Instagram/@sufmidasco)

JAKARTA - Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, is often a public concern. This Gerindra politician often appears to bridge national issues between the legislature and the executive.

Sufmi Dasco Ahmad is said to be one of the most trusted people by President Prabowo Subianto, especially in assisting the government through legislative institutions and political communication to various parties.

A number of observers assess that the man born in Bandung has always been proactive in solving various problems in the community.

Recently, Sufmi Dasco is considered to have a vital role behind the birth of President Prabowo's policy which decided that the four polemic islands would be returned to Aceh Province.

This was stated by the Deputy Chairman of Commission II of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Bahtra Banong. According to his statement, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad intensively communicated with President Prabowo and a number of related parties to bridge the people of Aceh and North Sumatra.

"We thank Prof. Sufmi Dasco Ahmad for proactively communicating with the President over the aspirations of the people of Aceh and North Sumatra regarding the four islands that have been polemic lately," said Bahtra.

This is not the first time the name Sufmi Dasco Ahmad has appeared on national issues. He is known to often precede the announcement of policy changes from President Prabowo Subianto compared to ministers.

Saat kisruh kelangkaan gas LPG 3 kg awal tahun ini misalnya. Saat itu masyarakat diputirkan karena sulit mencari gas LPG di tingkat pencer.

This happened because the Minister of Mineral Energy (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia said that starting February 1, 2025, the government implemented a policy prohibiting the sale of 3 kg LPG gas to retailers and transferring sales to only official PT Pertamina agents. The goal is that the subsidized LPG gas is right on target.

However, seeing the chaos in a number of areas due to this LPG queue, Dasco revealed, President Prabowo Subianto ordered Bahlil to reopen the distribution of 3 kg LPG gas to retail traders.

Then when ownership of four islands, namely Panjang Island, Lipan Island, Mangkir Gadang Island, and Mangkir Ketek Island became a dispute between Aceh and North Sumatra Provinces, Dasco also appeared fast, communicative, and was considered to represent the interests of the people.

Dasco was present at a limited meeting on the settlement of disputes on the four islands of Aceh which were considered to be part of the North Sumatra region. In the meeting chaired by Prabowo, Dasco reported the discovery of important documents that became a bright point for regional affairs.

He said that in the historical document it was determined that the four islands were included in the Aceh Province.

Recently, Dasco also received attention on environmental issues, because he helped encourage the revocation of mining permits in the Raja Ampat conservation area, Southwest Papua, after many parties voiced rejection of activities that could potentially damage the world's natural heritage.

However, behind the appreciation for the quick and aspirational steps, concerns arise regarding the ethics of state administration. Dasco is considered often overlaped against those who should not be his main duties and functions.

Executive Director of the Voxpol Center Research and Consulting Pangi Syarwi Chaniago highlighted the role of Sufmi Dasco in the government. On the one hand, he appreciated Dasco's active role, especially in the context of demonstrating national stability during the transition period.

But on the other hand, if you enter the executive realm too often, it will blur the boundaries between the legislative and executive functions.

Because the Indonesian government system adheres to a presidential system, the principle of separating power, aka trias politics, must be closely maintained. The DPR as a legislative institution should carry out its supervisory and legislative functions, not an extension of government policy communication.

"If the legislative role is too involved in the executive affairs, the DPR's supervisory function can be blunt, and the checks and balances mechanism is weak," Pangi said in a written statement received by VOI.

Many parties have questioned whether it is appropriate for a DPR leader to provide an official clarification on executive policies. Because this task is constitutionally the authority of the minister or government officials.

If this trend is allowed, according to Pangi, it has the potential to make the public lose clarity in understanding the structure of state power. In addition, the neutrality of the DPR can also be questioned.

Even so, Pangi understands Dasco's political steps in the context of maintaining stability during the transitional national power. With strong network capital and credibility among the elite, according to Pangi, Dasco is able to facilitate communication between institutions.

But he still emphasized the importance of ethically and constitutionally separating roles.

"The DPR must maintain its function as a supervisor. Executives who carry out and communicate policies. Public education and maturation of political culture are very important so that our democracy remains healthy and functional," Pangi concluded.