PKS Supports Pilkada Through DPRD, Claims Can Reduce Fraud And Save Budget

Illustration of the 2024 Simultaneous Pilkada (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Member of the Indonesian House of Representatives from the PKS faction, Almuzzammil Yusuf supports President Prabowo Subianto's proposal for the Regional Head Election (Pilkada) through the DPRD. According to him, the election of governors, regents and mayors through the DPRD can minimize various frauds during the election.

"PKS supports the discourse of regional elections through the DPRD submitted by President Prabowo. It is time for the implementation of the Pilkada to be evaluated immediately thoroughly," Muzzammil told reporters Thursday, December 19.

The chairman of the PKS DPP for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Polhukam) assessed that fraud such as money politics or intervention from the apparatus could be eliminated if the Pilkada was carried out through the DPRD. Later, he said, Bawaslu could cooperate with the Police, Prosecutors, and the KPK to tighten supervision.

"In direct regional elections, various frauds have occurred, such as money politics, the side of the apparatus to support certain candidates, politicization of social assistance funds, recapitulation of votes, and so on. If the Pilkada is elected through the DPRD, these frauds can be minimized and even eliminated," explained Muzzammil.

The Lampung electoral district legislator also assessed that the large state funds spent on the Pilkada event could be allocated for various people's welfare programs.

"In the last few simultaneous regional elections from 2017, 2018, 2020, and 2024, the total budget disbursed touched the range of IDR 80.65 trillion. The large funds can be allocated to improve people's welfare, such as opening more jobs, providing business capital, improving road infrastructure, building new classrooms, adding health facilities and so on," said Muzzammil.

In addition, according to Muzzammil, the Pilkada immediately opened the potential for conflict and polarization in the community as well as development discrimination.

"We have seen in a number of areas, so far there has been conflict and polarization in the community in the direct Pilkada process. In addition, development discrimination also occurs, such as a village that does not choose many candidates who win, usually the development is not prioritized," he said.

Muzzammil said that the Pilkada through the DPRD was also part of a democratic process, in accordance with Article 18 paragraph (4) of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia and the 4th precept of Pancasila.

Article 18 paragraph (4) of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia states that Governor, Regent, and Mayor respectively as heads of provincial, district and city governments are elected democratically," he said.

"Thus, the Pilkada through the DPRD is also part of a democratic process and the implementation of representative democracy according to the 4th precept of Pancasila. Even though it was chosen in the DPRD, the basis of wisdom and wisdom (ethics and morals) is an absolute requirement for its implementation," he concluded.