DPRD East Kalimantan Inquiry Right: DPR Member Reminds Regional Heads to Be More Sensitive

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - A member of Commission II of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Muhammad Khozin, has reminded regional heads to be more sensitive to public issues following the processing of the inquiry right proposal in the East Kalimantan Regional Legislative Council (DPRD Kaltim). Khozin assessed that the political dynamics occurring in East Kalimantan must serve as an important lesson for other regional heads, particularly in responding to public aspirations. “An important lesson for other regional heads from the dynamics in East Kalimantan Province is that regional heads must increase their sensitivity to public issues,” Khozin stated when contacted by Kompas.com on Wednesday (6/5/2026). “Regional heads should focus on strengthening fiscal conditions in their respective regions to improve public welfare. Regional heads are also demanded to more optimally resolve basic issues of the regional community,” Khozin added. On the other hand, Khozin emphasised that the use of the inquiry right by the DPRD is a legitimate mechanism in the regional government system. This politician from the National Awakening Party explained that the inquiry right is part of the DPRD’s supervisory function over regional head policies deemed strategic and having broad impacts on the public. Khozin referred to the provisions of Article 106 paragraph (3) of Law Number 23 of 2014 on Regional Government, which stipulates that the inquiry right can be used to investigate regional government policies suspected of contravening statutory regulations. “The special committee for the inquiry into regional heads from the 2024 Regional Elections is not the first time; to date, there have been at least two regional heads, previously the Regent of Pati and now the Governor of East Kalimantan,” he said. It was previously reported that the proposal for the use of the inquiry right in the DPRD Kaltim has now entered the initial discussion stage. The proposal emerged amid increasing public pressure, including student demonstrations urging the DPRD to immediately make a decision. In a consultation meeting held on Monday (4/5/2026) evening, six out of seven factions in the DPRD Kaltim expressed agreement to proceed with the inquiry right. The proposal has been signed by 22 council members and received by the DPRD leadership. Nevertheless, the proposal has not yet become a final decision as it still needs to be discussed in the Advisory Board (Banmus) before being brought to the plenary session for the formation of the special committee.