Former Parliamentary Leaders Urge National Forum to Strengthen Civil Society
Representative Bambang Soesatyo stated that the National Forum of Parliamentary and House Leadership from 1999-2024 has agreed to strengthen civil society by providing strategic recommendations to the government in addressing various national challenges.
Soesatyo emphasised that Indonesia currently faces multilayered challenges requiring consolidation of all national elements. Issues including global geopolitical tensions, economic slowdowns in several developed nations, and Indo-Pacific regional dynamics are having tangible impacts on national economic stability.
“National development agendas such as downstream-focused industrialisation, development of the Nusantara Capital, digital transformation, and strengthening food security require consistent and coordinated policy support. Therefore, the National Forum of Parliamentary and House Leadership from 1999-2024 seeks to become a strategic discussion space capable of bringing together political, economic, and social perspectives in a broader and clearer manner,” said Soesatyo in a statement on Tuesday, 10 March 2026.
He conveyed this during a gathering and iftar meal with former parliamentary leaders from the 1999-2024 period at Parle Resto Jakarta on Sunday, 8 March.
Meanwhile, House Speaker for 2004-2009, Agung Laksono, assessed that the current turbulent global situation must be met with political vigilance and well-developed economic policy.
“The world is currently experiencing real upheaval. The impact is already felt from rising oil prices to economic uncertainty. We must ensure these impacts do not develop into larger problems for our nation and state,” said Agung.
At this meeting, the leaders also highlighted the importance of strengthening national communication amid various social and political challenges. Particularly given the current fragmentation of information in digital spaces, polarisation of public opinion, and declining quality of public dialogue often trigger misunderstandings in society.
In these circumstances, the National Forum of Parliamentary and House Leadership from 1999-2024 is valued as a bridge for communication between government, society, and various national elements. Vice Chairman of the People’s Consultative Assembly Hidayat Nur Wahid emphasised that the significant potential possessed by former state leaders cannot be lost.
“This nation has many figures who have held strategic positions and possess experience in making important decisions. That experience is invaluable for providing input on various issues, ranging from the direction of national development, legislative matters, to other strategic issues,” said Hidayat.
Similarly, Vice Chairman of the People’s Consultative Assembly for 2019-2024, Ahmad Basarah, emphasised that the National Forum of Parliamentary and House Leadership from 1999-2024 was established as an independent national communication space.
“This forum exists as a gathering and communication forum for alumni leaders of the People’s Consultative Assembly and House of Representatives to convey strategic thoughts to the government. Input arising from this forum is the voice of the nation, not other interests,” explained Basarah.
Development Programmes and National Education in Focus
In this discussion, several national issues also became focal points for the leaders. One was the effectiveness of various development programmes, which were deemed still requiring evaluation to ensure accurate targeting. Several forum participants also raised the Free Nutritious Meal Programme (MBG).
The leaders valued the MBG programme’s good intentions, but believed it requires strict oversight to prevent budget irregularities or distribution inaccuracies. Additionally, issues of national education quality, management of LPDP funds, and inter-ministerial coordination were also part of the discussion.
On the same occasion, House Speaker for 2009-2014, Marzuki Alie, conveyed that the forum could become a space for providing constructive input on various government policies.
“Many government policies are already good, but their implementation needs improvement to ensure accurate targeting and does not reduce attention to important sectors, such as education. This forum wants to provide input so public policies are truly effective for society,” said Marzuki.
Besides public policy issues, the leaders also emphasised the importance of more solid political communication within the government environment. Several leaders believed that differences in statements between government officials still frequently occur, causing confusion in society.
This situation demonstrates the importance of stronger coordination among ministers to ensure government policy messages are conveyed clearly and consistently. The National Forum believes that solid coordination will help accelerate the priority programmes of President Prabowo’s administration.
Attending this event were various Parliamentary and House Leaders from the 1999-2024 period, including Bambang Soesatyo, Agung Laksono, Marzuki Alie, Hidayat Nur Wahid, Mahyudin, Melani Leimena Suharli, Agus Hermanto, Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, Amir Uskara, Ahmad Basarah, Priyo Budi Santoso, Arsul Sani and Rachmat Gobel, as well as House Representative Robert Kardinal.