DPR Asked Not To Victim Image For The Interest Of The Palace

Merdeka Palace Jakarta in 2020. (BPMI Setpres-Rusman)

JAKARTA - The image of the House of Representatives, which has recently started to improve, seems to have to be corrected, it can even "go free" in the people's distrust tuber due to the controversy over the revision of the Pilkada Law at the Legislation Body (Baleg) level.

The DPR must immediately restore public trust as quickly as possible if it wants to still hold the'respectful' council as a representative of the people's representatives.

"So if there are Baleg members who admit that the revision of the Pilkada Law wants the Palace, the DPR should not want it. Because the positive image that has been built so far can drop instantly, and must work hard to restore it again," said Political Communication Observer Ari Junaedi.

"So the DPR should not sacrifice "self-esteem" for the sake of the Palace. The DPR must restore its dignity as a representative of the people, not become the jongos Palace," he continued.

Based on the results of the Kompas Research and Development survey on 27 May-2 June 2024, public trust in the DPR was at 62.6 percent. Although not the first, this people's representative institution was recorded to be able to increase the highest positive image, which was 12.1 percent compared to the previous year. Even the increase in the image of the DPR beat the TNI, which was in first place.

According to Ari, every state institution has its own interests in maintaining public trust in the institution. He said, a state institution should not sacrifice this interest for the benefit of other state institutions.

"Moreover, the decision of the Constitutional Court (MK) regarding the candidacy in the Pilkada greatly affects the democracy of the nation and the future of our children and grandchildren in the future. If the DPR takes the wrong step, it will be directly as a council of traitors to the people," said Ari.

"So if it's because of other institutions (Presidential Institutions), the image of the DPR has the potential to fall again, it's a huge loss for the DPR. What is blasphemed by the public is the DPR, not the Palace," continued the Director of the Nusakom Pratama Political Studies Institute.

Ari emphasized that the DPR must quickly restore its positive image which had previously begun to climb, by returning its supervisory function to the right track.

"There is another sympathy for the people with checks and balances for every government policy. So don't be a stamp, let alone a Palace shield," said Ari.

As reported, Member of the Legislative Council of the House of Representatives, Masinton Pasaribu, said firmly that the revision of the Pilkada Law decided by the Legislative Council of the Republic of Indonesia was based on the wishes of the Palace. Masinton said this in response to the government's attitude in approving the draft Pilkada Bill at the time of the level I decision-making meeting with the Legislative Council.

"Well, this is what the Palace wants," said Masinton after attending the DPR Baleg meeting at the Nusantara I Building, Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Wednesday, August 21, 2024.

Masinton said that this revision was a form of the Palace's reaction to the decision of the Constitutional Court (MK) Number 60 of 2024 which was just decided Monday, August 20, 2024. As a result of Baleg's decision, the Indonesian House of Representatives Building was the main target of massive demonstrations by students and other elements of civil society, the day after.

Finally, the DPR RI decided to cancel the ratification of the Pilkada Bill so that the issue of nomination in the 2024 Pilkada still refers to the Constitutional Court's decision regarding the threshold for candidates for parties, and the minimum age limit for candidates for regional heads.