DPD Hails Prabowo's Government as Archipelagic Bill Advances After Nine-Year Delay

The Regional Representative Council (DPD) has expressed appreciation for President Prabowo Subianto’s administration, which has commenced deliberations on the Archipelagic Regions Bill. The bill has been known to be in limbo since 2017.

DPD Chairman Sultan B. Najamudin asserted that the DPD’s long wait and struggle to push for the deliberation of the Archipelagic Regions Bill has now borne fruit.

“For nearly nine years, since 2017, the DPD RI has proposed the Archipelagic Regions Bill in every National Legislation Programme, year after year, tirelessly. The bill has now been officially included in the 2026 Priority National Legislation Programme,” Sultan said in his speech at the annual joint session of the MPR, DPR and DPD in Senayan, Jakarta, on 14 August 2026.

“Through this Joint Session, the DPD RI, together with millions of people in archipelagic regions, conveys its highest appreciation to President Prabowo Subianto and the DPR RI for commencing the deliberation of the Archipelagic Regions Bill,” he added.

He expressed confidence that the deliberations will be dynamic and will provide solutions to the current problems facing archipelagic regions. As such, its implementation can bring benefits and boost local economies.

“We are confident and believe that this bill will be enacted as a historic milestone as well as an important legacy of President Prabowo’s administration in delivering development justice and strengthening Indonesia as an archipelagic nation,” he stated.

He also affirmed that in its oversight function, the DPD RI goes directly to the regions to monitor the implementation of related laws, particularly those concerning regional autonomy and central-regional relations.

“Management of natural resources, implementation of the state budget, taxation, education, and religion, including the organisation of the Hajj pilgrimage,” he stressed.