Heru Budi Ogah Responds To PKS' Proposal Regarding Regional Head Elections For Mayors In Jakarta Post-IKN

Acting Governor Of DKI Jakarta Heru Budi Hartono after visiting RPTRA Intiland Teduh/DOK ANTARA

JAKARTA - Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta Heru Budi Hartono did not want to comment on the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) proposal for mayors and regents in Jakarta to be appointed through regional head elections (pilkada). The election for the mayor and regent levels is proposed by PKS to be carried out after the capital city officially moves to IKN Nusantara. However, according to Heru, the decision is the domain of legislators, namely the DPR RI and the central government which are currently working on the Draft Jakarta Special Region Bill (RUU DKJ). "I don't want to comment on that. It is being discussed in the DPR RI by the central government," Heru said when met in North Jakarta, Monday, March 18. Previously, the Chairman of the DKI Jakarta PKS Regional Leadership Council (DPW) Khoirudin proposed the direct election of mayors and regents, as well as the second or district/city DPRD in Jakarta after he was no longer the capital city. Khoirudin assessed that the proposal needed to be considered in the Draft Law on the Special Region of Jakarta (RUU DKJ) which is currently being discussed in the DPR. According to the Deputy Chairperson of the DKI Jakarta DPRD, so far, council members have not been able to optimally carry out the function of budget supervision and absorb the aspirations of the people in 5 cities and 1 administrative district in Jakarta. This is what Khoirudin sees as the need for the formation of level II DPRD. "Indeed, the people of Jakarta are very large compared to the people in other crucial areas, they need to be served. The number of council members is small, rarely among us who visit all places," said Khoirudin when met at NasDem Tower, Friday, March 15. Likewise with the role of regional heads. Khoirudin assessed that the mayors and regents appointed directly by the Governor had not been able to understand the needs of their citizens optimally. "Why does there need to be a mayor election? In order to be more zooming, the mayor will know more about the problems in the region and the potential for PAD (regional income) can be maximized. All of that is for the community so that the people of Jakarta can be served properly," explained Khoirudin. He continued, it is not impossible that the direct election of mayors/regents and DPRD at the city/district level in Jakarta could be carried out.

This is because Aceh and Yogyakarta, which previously held the status of the capital city, are now holding direct elections at the district/city level. "Especialities in Jakarta should not be different from the specialities in Yogya, the same in Aceh, where in the area that I mentioned earlier they had a direct election for the mayor, there was also a direct election for DPRD II," he added.