THE DPR RI Legislative Body (Baleg) recommends that the General Election Commission (KPU) be made an ad hoc institution that will only be held for two years for the preparation and technical implementation of general elections at both the central and regional levels.
Member of the Legislative Body (Baleg) of the DPR RI, Saleh Partaonan Daulay, said that his proposal was necessary so that the country could save its budget, especially when the KPU was not in election years. Moreover, the system of election stages which are carried out simultaneously can be completed within two years.
“So we are thinking at the DPR, in fact the KPU is only an ad hoc institution, only for two years. “Why are we spending so much state money,” said Saleh during a hearing between the DPR RI Baleg, as reported by Parliament TV on Thursday (31/10).
With the simultaneous general election system in 2024, Saleh believes that the KPU for the next 3 to 5 years after the election will only carry out a number of technical guidance (bimtek) activities. According to him, this was not very urgent and on the other hand, he was doubtful about the technical guidance activities.
“They just came for technical guidance to Jakarta, I know exactly. “Soon the technical guidance will come to Jakarta, I don’t know what the technical guidance will do,” he stressed.
Apart from that, Saleh also suggested that in the future, the Subdistrict Election Committee (PPK), which has been an adhoc institution for the KPU when elections arrive, should be abolished. The reason, he said, is that the motive for “gaming” elections occurs more often at the PPK level.
To save the budget, according to Saleh, the vote recapitulation stage at the PPK level will be eliminated so that it can be carried out directly at the district/city KPU level. However, before realizing this, he considered that there must be further consideration of the mechanism so that the KPU at the district/city level does not have a double workload.
“With PPK, once there is a level from here to there, that is where there is a new meaning to holding elections. “Sorry, friends who took part in the election already understand,” he added.
Meanwhile, the National Coordinator of the People’s Voter Education Network (JPPR), Rendy Umboh, explained that the simultaneous implementation of elections at the national and local levels should be carried out over a period of time that is not too far apart.
The national level elections in question are electing the President and Vice President, DPR RI, and DPD RI. Meanwhile, the local level elections elect the Governor, Regent, Mayor, and Provincial DPRD, Regency/City DPRD.
Rendy proposed that the 2029 national election should be held in February, and the local level election should be held in May. According to him, this will be much more efficient and will not conflict with constitutional aspects.
“The problem is with the Provincial, Regency/City DPRD, can it be extended or not? “According to the constitution, that is not allowed because our elections are held every five years,” he stressed. (P-5)
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**Interview with Saleh Partaonan Daulay: Proposal to Transform KPU into an Ad Hoc Institution**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us, Saleh. You recently proposed that the General Election Commission (KPU) be designated as an ad hoc institution. Can you elaborate on the reasoning behind this suggestion?
**Saleh Partaonan Daulay:** Certainly. The main reason for proposing to make KPU an ad hoc institution is to optimize our budget, especially during non-election years. Right now, we are spending substantial amounts of public funds on an institution that, for most of the time, isn’t actively handling elections. Given that our election system is designed to be conducted simultaneously, I believe a two-year mandate for the KPU is sufficient to prepare and oversee the elections effectively.
**Interviewer:** How do you envision the functions of KPU during these two years?
**Saleh Partaonan Daulay:** During those two years, the KPU would focus on all activities related to preparing for the elections, including logistical planning and ensuring compliance with election regulations. After the elections, the KPU could transition to conducting technical guidance activities, which I believe are necessary but can be done on a much smaller scale.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned doubts regarding the technical guidance activities. Could you explain your concerns?
**Saleh Partaonan Daulay:** Yes, my concerns stem from the fact that many of the technical guidance sessions seem unproductive. For instance, many of these gatherings in Jakarta don’t translate to impactful actions in the field. Instead, they often end up being mere formalities rather than providing real assistance to the local electoral bodies.
**Interviewer:** You also suggested abolishing the Subdistrict Election Committee (PPK). What led you to that conclusion?
**Saleh Partaonan Daulay:** The PPK has been a recurring concern regarding electoral integrity. There have been instances of electoral manipulation at this level, which raises questions about their effectiveness and motivations. By eliminating this body and consolidating responsibilities under a more streamlined KPU, we can potentially enhance transparency and reduce the risk of “gaming” the system.
**Interviewer:** What kind of reactions have you received from other members of the DPR regarding this proposal?
**Saleh Partaonan Daulay:** The reactions have been mixed. While some support the idea of reducing overhead costs and focusing on efficient electoral processes, others are hesitant about altering an institution that has been a staple in Indonesia’s democratic process. Nevertheless, I believe that the need to prioritize efficiency and accountability will eventually resonate with a broader audience.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Saleh, for sharing your insights. This proposal will certainly spark much discussion as we approach the next elections.
**Saleh Partaonan Daulay:** Thank you for having me. It’s important that we continue to explore innovative solutions to improve our electoral processes.