House Ethics Council Claims No Procedural Violation in Sahroni's Reinstatement as Commission III Deputy Chair
The Chairman of the House of Representatives Ethics Council (MKD), Nazaruddin Dek Gam, has claimed there was no procedural violation in the reinstatement of Ahmad Sahroni as Deputy Chairman of Commission III. According to the National Mandate Party (PAN) politician, Sahroni’s appointment on Thursday, 19 February, complied with House regulations, standing orders, and the MD3 Law.
“There was no procedural violation in the reinstatement of Sahroni as a leader of Commission III,” Dek Gam said in a written statement quoted on Monday, 23 February 2026.
Dek Gam explained that the MKD had imposed a six-month suspension on the NasDem Party politician, with the ruling read out on 5 November 2025. However, the MKD calculated the suspension as taking effect earlier, from 31 August 2025, in line with the NasDem Party leadership’s decision.
The party led by Surya Paloh suspended Sahroni on 31 August amid a wave of demonstrations across various regions in Indonesia. Based on this ruling, Nazaruddin confirmed that the suspension period had ended and Sahroni could return to duty at the commission overseeing legal affairs.
“If one follows the MKD ruling, then Ahmad Sahroni’s suspension will end on 5 March 2026,” he said.
The House is currently in recess until 9 March 2026, meaning Sahroni will officially commence duties at the parliamentary complex from 10 March. Dek Gam stated that Sahroni’s reinstatement as Commission III leader was proposed by NasDem on 19 February 2026.
The Indonesia Parliamentary Center (IPC) has assessed that Sahroni’s reinstatement as Deputy Chairman of Commission III potentially violates Law Number 17 of 2014 on the People’s Consultative Assembly, House of Representatives, Regional Representative Council, and Regional People’s Representative Councils — known as the MD3 Law. This legislation governs the structure, functions, authority, and rights of legislative institutions in Indonesia.
The concern arises because Sahroni’s reappointment as head of the legal affairs commission occurred whilst his suspension as a House member had not yet clearly concluded. “The House may argue that this appointment is administrative in nature and does not fully reactivate Sahroni until the suspension period ends, but this feels like a weak justification,” said IPC researcher Arif Adiputro, when contacted on Thursday, 19 February 2026.
Arif explained that under Article 106 of the MD3 Law, a suspended House member is prohibited from carrying out duties as a parliamentarian, including holding a commission leadership position during the suspension period.
Arif emphasised that although House Deputy Speaker Sufmi Dasco claimed Sahroni had been reactivated, by his calculations, the suspension period should not yet have concluded.
Lucius Karus, a researcher at the Indonesian Forum for Parliamentary Concern (Formappi), also deemed Sahroni’s appointment as Deputy Chairman of Commission III problematic. He argued that Sahroni’s status as a suspended House member should still be in effect if calculated from the date of his suspension by NasDem, as per the Ethics Council’s ruling.
The MKD ruling in November imposed a six-month suspension on Sahroni effective from the date NasDem issued its suspension letter on 31 August 2025. Meanwhile, Sahroni’s appointment as Deputy Chairman of Commission III was decided on 19 February 2026. Lucius noted there were still approximately two weeks remaining in the suspension period.
Lucius also pointed out that Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, who chaired the plenary session confirming Sahroni’s appointment, did not clarify when the six-month suspension would end. Dasco stated that Sahroni had been reactivated when approached after the meeting, but declined to provide further details regarding the calculation of Sahroni’s suspension timeline.