In The Past, DPR Often Criticizes But Now It's Nyaleg, Former Chair Of BEM UI: I'm Just Reflecting On Myself

Margasmahendra bead (instagram margamahendra)

JAKARTA - The decision of the former Chairperson of BEM UI who used to criticize the Indonesian House of Representatives, Manik Margamahendra, and is now running as a candidate for legislative member of the DKI Jakarta DPRD has been criticized by a number of parties.

Manik admitted that he was aware of this. Manik also admitted that he would introspect himself during his election until he later qualified in parliamentary seats in the 2024 Legislative Election or not.

"In the end, I just reflected myself, yes. Why? Because people who have different opinions are very reasonable and if it turns out they criticize it doesn't matter either," Manik told reporters, Friday, June 16.

If later elected as a member of the DKI DPRD, Manik also hopes that people who criticize him can supervise their performance. Because, during his time as a student, Manik emphasized that he had criticized the parliamentary and government system, not the member of parliament itself.

"Even if they still don't believe it, it doesn't matter. It's actually my burden or goal to convince them that I can prove it with my capacity," he explained.

Meanwhile, if Manik later passes as a member of the DKI Jakarta DPRD in the 2024 Legislative Election, he will test the idea of the problems of society that have been brought when he was a student to activists to be used as considerations for policies and regulations formulated, especially in DKI.

"Hopefully it can bring the aspirations of the community may not be bridged properly. It can enter the system, including issues that have been discussed about public health," he said.

The name Manik became public attention because he had labeled the "dewan of traitor to the people" before members of the DPR. On September 23, 2019, a number of representatives of the obligatory held an audience with representatives of the DPR. At that time, students concluded that members of the DPR did not side with the people.

There are still many other problematic bills that we ask for not to be passed. Not only about the KPK Law (revolving results) or the Criminal Code Bill. Today we gave a motion of not believing in the DPR. Because today we feel disappointed, "said Manik.

Manik said that the group of students also stated that they did not believe in the DPR because they did not follow up on their aspirations, namely canceling the revision of the KPK Law, RKUHP, and a number of other bills.

"Even though September 19, we had sent a letter until the Secretariat General finally received it. It turned out that it had not been heard. Today we state that the motion does not believe in the council of traitor to the people," said Manik.