Deddy Sitorus Responds to Gibran's Invitation to Office in IKN: With Pleasure

Member of the House of Representatives Commission II from the PDI Perjuangan faction, Deddy Sitorus, responded to Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka’s invitation to jointly office in the Nusantara Capital (IKN) in East Kalimantan.

Deddy said he gladly welcomed the invitation because IKN is not far from his electoral district as a DPR member.

However, he reminded of the differences between the executive and legislative branches.

“Wah, with pleasure. IKN is neighbouring my electoral district, so no need for expensive travel costs to the district. The issue is, Mr Vice President might not understand the nature and difference between the executive and legislative branches,” said Deddy when contacted on Friday (10/4).

Deddy emphasised that he is not part of the executive branch like ministers, agency heads, or director generals supported by bureaucratic apparatus and budgets.

According to him, if asked to go to IKN, it would be like inviting for a holiday or retreat because work as a commission member is collective in nature.

“My proposal is serious; the executive buildings already constructed must be utilised to avoid being categorised as wasteful,” he said.

In IKN, he said, facilities have already been built for the president, vice president, and coordinating ministers along with their supporting apparatus.

He said there is no harm in utilising those facilities on a rotational basis, each for one month.

“If it’s not possible for all in one ministry, it could be one or two directorates general. Why let state money that has already been spent in hundreds of trillions go unused?” he stated.

According to him, there is no problem if the DPR has to office in IKN. However, the DPR works collectively in commissions and House apparatus (AKD) along with their executive partners.

He said the DPR can only perform its functions in IKN if the partners are also there.

“For example, if Commission 2 goes there, then there must be elements from the Home Affairs Ministry, Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency, KPU, Bawaslu, MenPAN/RB, and others there. If not, what would they do there?” he said.

He suspected that Gibran has not followed the IKN development process. He said that to date, no legislative or judicial infrastructure has been built in IKN.

“So I suggest that Mr Vice President invite relevant ministries or government agencies to go there. Going there is for work, not for retreating,” he said.

Previously, Gibran invited Deddy to jointly office in IKN.

That statement was conveyed by Gibran in response to Deddy who asked Gibran to office in IKN.

“Thank you for the input from the Honourable Member of the House Deddy Sitorus. Later, we will jointly office in IKN,” said Gibran in a written statement on Thursday (9/4).

He said IKN has been designated as the political capital in 2028.

“Thus, state administration from the executive, judicial, and legislative sides must be fulfilled,” he stated.

Previously, in a meeting between the IKN Authority and Commission II of the DPR on (30/3), Deddy touched on the discourse of the Vice President officing in IKN.

“Since long ago, I have requested that. Vice President, Forestry Minister, Village Minister, Transmigration Minister, go there and stay. State money is valuable,” he said.

That statement was made by Deddy while emphasising the importance of utilising the buildings already constructed in IKN. He also asked the Head of OIKN Basuki to discuss this with President Prabowo Subianto.

“How do we utilise that, Mr (Basuki)? Please discuss with Mr President and the ministers so we can utilise it, Mr. It would be wicked to the people; buildings standing unused, money burned for maintenance,” he said.