In recent weeks, the public has been closely scrutinizing the response of political parties and the House of Representatives (DPR) to ethical violations and legislative performance issues. Although measures such as suspensions, benefit cuts, and travel bans have been introduced, critics argue that these remain only preliminary steps. What is urgently needed, they say, is more fundamental reform, including the completion of draft bills, stronger oversight, and the safeguarding of integrity.
Lecturer at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (Fisipol UGM), Alfath Bagus Panuntun El Nur Indonesia, emphasized that parliamentary reform must not be cosmetic but systemic.
“We need something beyond that, something long-term and systemic,” he said on Monday (Sep. 1).
According to Alfath, short-term measures such as suspensions or benefit cuts are necessary but should not be the end of the process. He urged the DPR and the government to finalize draft legislation that serves public needs, including the Asset Confiscation Bill.
This legal instrument, he explained, would provide a powerful tool to curb corruption by restricting the freedom of corrupt actors who have long abused their power.
Without firm legal mechanisms, he warned, corruption will continue to recur due to the absence of real deterrents.
“Corruptors are not afraid of death; they are only afraid of poverty,” he stressed.
Furthermore, Alfath emphasized that systemic parliamentary reform must begin with the reform of political parties. The heavy dependence of legislators on party chairpersons, he argued, makes reform difficult to achieve.
He noted that Indonesian politics remains deeply entrenched in oligarchic practices, resembling family-run enterprises. Such exclusive patterns of political succession, he said, deny equal opportunities to those outside elite circles and hinder the regeneration of competent and ethical leaders.
“The main actors who must be engaged in dialogue and change are the chairpersons of political parties,” he explained.
On the issue of oversight, Alfath highlighted the importance of strengthening public participation. He suggested that social audits could serve as an effective mechanism to ensure the DPR fulfills its mandate to the people.
This practice, he noted, has been successfully applied in established democratic countries and could serve as a model for Indonesia. Public involvement, he added, would also foster a sense of ownership over the legislative process, transforming citizens from mere spectators into active guardians of democracy.
“Every policy enacted by the DPR should reflect the needs and interests of the people themselves,” he said.
Alfath also emphasized the need for clear indicators to measure the success of parliamentary reform. These should include not only the number of regulations passed but also the tangible impact of legislation on people’s lives.
Transparency, public access to the legislative process, and the quality of policies, he argued, must all serve as benchmarks. For example, greater openness through live broadcasts of parliamentary sessions and easier access to documents could help build public trust.
He also called for continuous evaluation to ensure that laws are not merely symbolic but effectively implemented.
“Legislative productivity must deliver real impact, not just rules written on paper,” he remarked.
In addition, Alfath underscored the central role of political parties in either accelerating or obstructing reform. The political will of parties, he asserted, determines whether public aspirations are truly heard and translated into policy.
Without this commitment, political instability will likely intensify. Parties, he observed, too often prioritize internal interests over the civil agenda, despite being entrusted with the mandate to nurture leaders and shape national policy direction.
“Much of the political turmoil in Indonesia can be traced back to the failures of this political process,” he stated.
In conclusion, Alfath offered several recommendations to ensure that parliamentary reform does not stop at symbolic measures. These include ensuring parties respond to public demands, ending the arrogance of legislators, and fostering empathy among public officials toward societal conditions.
He emphasized that short-term measures must align with structural changes. Public officials, he added, should refrain from displaying extravagance amid public hardship.
“We must show greater empathy for public concerns while ensuring that officials work to improve the welfare of society,” he concluded.
Author: Triya Andriyani
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya Arifadi
Photographer: Donnie Trisfian