Bamsoet Values the Pilkada through the DPRD More Efficient and Minimizes Corruption

Illustration of the Pilkada (between)

JAKARTA - Former Speaker of the DPR and MPR RI, Bambang Soesatyo (Bamsoet) supports the discourse conveyed by President Prabowo Subianto regarding the election of regional heads through the Regional Representative Council (DPRD). According to him, this scheme has also been implemented in a number of countries such as Malaysia, India, England, Canada, and Australia.

Bamsoet assessed that in addition to reducing money games, this scheme could also suppress political costs which are the cause of corruption involving regional heads.

As is known, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has recorded that from 2024 to May 2025, as many as 201 regional heads ranging from the Mayor to the Governor were entangled in corruption cases. Most of these cases are related to permits, infrastructure projects, and regional budget management.

"Direct elections often turn into a contest of capital. Many candidates have to spend a lot of money since the nomination process, the campaign, until the election. This situation creates a vicious circle, because when elected, regional heads are encouraged to return their political capital through deviant ways," said Bamsoet in his statement in Jakarta, Wednesday, December 24.

Bamsoet also highlighted the aspect of state budget efficiency. According to him, the Pilkada directly requires very large costs, ranging from voting logistics, security, to the potential for re-voting which often occurs due to disputes over the results.

"Pilkada through the DPRD as a more rational and measurable alternative. The DPRD as a representation of the people has the capacity to assess the track record, capacity, and integrity of candidates for regional heads through a more closed mechanism from the prevalence of money politics in the field, but it can still be made transparent and accountable," said Bamsoet.

However, Bamsoet emphasized that changes to the Pilkada system must be accompanied by strengthening the integrity of the DPRD. According to him, transparency in the selection process, public supervision, and strict sanctions for council members who abuse their authority are absolute conditions for this system to run healthy and be trusted by the public.

"Support for the Pilkada through the DPRD is not a step backwards in democracy, but an effort to improve the quality of democracy so that it is more substantial," said the DPR member from the Golkar Party Faction.

"Democracy is not only measured by the direct voting process, but by the results, namely a clean, effective, and people-oriented government," added Bamsoet.

Previously, President Prabowo Subianto proposed that regional heads be elected by the DPRD because it was more efficient. Prabowo said the current pilkada system wasted tens of trillions of dollars, not only state money but also the money of figures who fought in the pilkada and the party.

"This system, how many trillion is gone in 1-2 days, from the state and from the respective political figures," said Prabowo in his speech at the 60th Anniversary of the Golkar Party at the Sentul International Convention Center (SICC), Bogor, Thursday, December 12 night.

Prabowo then gave an example of a number of countries that implement the system of regional heads elected by the DPRD, including Malaysia, Singapore, and India. According to him, with this system, the community can choose members of the DPRD.

He also assessed that the system was efficient and saved the state budget. So that the budget for the election can be allocated to other sectors needed by the community.

"I see that our neighboring countries are efficient. Malaysia, Singapore, India, once the members of the DPRD are elected, the DPRD is the one who chooses the governor to choose the regent. Efficient, no money out, efficient, we are rich," he said.