Bobby Nasution Explains Walk Out from North Sumatra DPRD Plenary Session

North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution has spoken out regarding his decision to leave the chamber during a Plenary Session on the Accountability of the North Sumatra Regional Budget for the 2025 Fiscal Year with the North Sumatra DPRD. According to him, he and the ranks of the Regional Apparatus Organisation (OPD) left the venue because the plenary session had essentially concluded. However, what transpired afterwards was that a member of the North Sumatra DPRD from the PDI-P faction raised an issue about the lack of a quorum. “Yes, it was a quorum issue, they said it was being discussed again. I think the meeting was scheduled for 9:00 AM and had already started, even though it was delayed due to quorum issues. But the series of plenary events was already finished. At the end, it was questioned and debated amongst the DPRD members themselves,” said Bobby Nasution in Medan, Saturday (25/7). Bobby also expressed surprise that the quorum issue was raised by the PDI-P faction, which, according to information he received, had a low attendance rate at the meeting. “As far as I know, what was conveyed to me, the one asking about the quorum, if I’m not mistaken, was from the faction that actually had the fewest members present. This was told to me; I don’t know if it’s true or not because I don’t hold the attendance list,” he stated. Bobby stressed the importance of boundaries between the executive and legislative roles. He argued that the OPD officials attended the invitation to fulfil a constitutional obligation, not to interfere in or listen to the council’s internal disputes. “Enough, I think that’s between them. Between DPRD members and DPRD members. They said there was a meeting at the same time, well, that’s a DPRD matter, not a matter for us in the executive. So, I felt that since there were other activities, we left the location. It was already finished,” he said. According to Bobby, the executive branch was present at the plenary session as invitees to carry out a constitutional duty, not to get involved in the legislature’s internal affairs. “I said let’s go home. Apparently, the issue was still ongoing, so I said, fine, let’s go home. That’s it; the OPD is not part of the legislature. We were there, it’s clear. The DPRD had the activity, the joint signing. We were there as the executive, as invitees. And being present there, if they are having an internal squabble, should we, the executive, be eavesdropping? It’s not proper, so we left,” he explained. The walk out by Bobby had sparked speculation of a political rift between him and the supporting parties in the North Sumatra DPRD. However, Bobby denied this notion. He asserted that the party questioning the quorum was not from his supporting coalition, but from the PDI-P faction. “In fact, as far as I know, the one asking was from the party I mentioned earlier (PDI-P). Not from the supporting parties,” he said. Previously, Governor Bobby Nasution suddenly walked out of the plenary session with North Sumatra DPRD members still in progress on Tuesday (21/7). At that time, North Sumatra DPRD member from the PDI-P faction, Syahril Siregar, suddenly raised an interruption just as the report from the Budget Committee and the reading of the draft joint decree between the DPRD and the Governor on the 2025 fiscal year budget accountability had finished. “Interruption, leadership. At the very least, the leadership must read out how many agreed and disagreed. Secondly, it is necessary to check which signatories’ notes regarding the North Sumatra APBD Draft Regulation need to heed the Standing Orders,” he said. He argued that two-thirds of the North Sumatra DPRD members needed to sign in person and be physically present. “We all know the factions in the North Sumatra DPRD warmly welcome the budget implementers. Suggestions and opinions after field visits, whether appropriate or not, certainly become notes for the future. Therefore, looking at the Standing Orders, it is stated that the number of attendees and those present must be declared so that the Standing Orders remain a guide,” he stated. Hearing this, North Sumatra DPRD Speaker Erni attempted to read out the number of factions that had signed and were present at the meeting. However, another interruption came from Gerindra faction member Arifay Tambunan. “Interruption, leadership. At this same hour, there is a Hearing with the same agenda on Oil and Gas, subsidised fuel, and student demands. If possible, let’s suspend this; how can there be a Plenary and a Hearing at the same time?” he said. Despite this, Erni stated that the council leadership was still complete and the DPRD members had been declared quorate. “The entire council leadership is still complete, and the DPRD members are declared quorate, because the number of signatures from the attendance list is already 69,” she explained. However, Syahrul again raised an interruption. “Permission, leadership. Responding to the faction’s response from Mr Rifai, I agree there should be no Hearing, because this is sacred for the interests of the people of North Sumatra. Please suspend temporarily and call everyone here,” he said. Hearing the debate continue, Bobby Nasution initially called his team. Shortly after, he rose from his seat and left the meeting room. Bobby also instructed all OPD officials present at the Plenary Session to leave the room. “OPD, out,” said Bobby, asking one official to call all OPD members still inside. The next agenda item was supposed to be the signing of the joint decree between the DPRD and the Governor of North Sumatra on the accountability of the North Sumatra Provincial Budget for 2025. Because Bobby walked out, the plenary session for the signing of the joint decree was ultimately postponed.