House Speaker Puan Maharani Tells Youth Parliament DPR is Frequent Target of Hoaxes

Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) Puan Maharani received an audience with the best participants of the Youth Parliament (Parja) for 2024 and 2025. In a warm discussion with the top Parja participants, Puan touched on the DPR being frequently hit by hoaxes.

The audience between Puan and the best Parja participants of 2024 and 2025 was held at the DPR Building, Parliamentary Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, on Wednesday, 12 August 2026. Puan was accompanied by Deputy Chair of the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Agency (BKSAP) of the DPR RI, Irine Yusiana Roba Putri, Member of Commission XI of the DPR, Diah Pikatan Orissa Putri Haprani, also known as Pinka Hapsari, and Member of Commission V of the DPR RI, Mochamad Herviano Widyatama.

Parja DPR RI is an annual political and democracy education programme run by the DPR for students of senior high schools, vocational high schools, or Islamic senior high schools and their equivalents. The programme gives selected students the opportunity to experience firsthand what it is like to be a member of parliament and to take part in a simulated session at the DPR RI Building.

A total of 12 best Parja participants from 2024 and 2025 were scheduled to attend the audience with Puan. One student was unable to attend but will join the other top Parja participants at the Annual Session of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR RI) on 14 August.

“I am inspired by the achievements and example set by you, the Youth Parliament participants, in your respective regions,” Puan said during the audience.

To take part in Parja DPR RI, participants must pass a selection process. The majority of participants are exemplary students with achievements in their respective fields, such as serving as ambassadors in their regions, winning competitions or championships, and so on.

Puan then invited the attending participants to discuss their experiences during Parja DPR, including what they gained after completing the programme.

One representative of the best Parja 2025 participants, Muhammad Fattan Faydzulhaq, recounted that he had once been accused of being a government buzzer after taking part in last year’s Youth Parliament programme.

Regarding this, Puan said that being a member of the DPR is not easy because members often face unfavourable accusations. According to her, the DPR is also frequently the target of hoaxes and attacks on social media, including herself.

“For example, the Asset Forfeiture Bill. The hoax claims that the DPR does not want to pass it. In those hoax contents, the photo of the DPR Speaker is also continuously circulated,” Puan said.

“In fact, the Asset Forfeiture Bill is currently being deliberated, and at this stage the DPR is seeking public input. A great deal of input is being heard from various elements of society. The DPR is also continuing to review the bill so that it does not overlap with other existing laws,” she continued.

During the question-and-answer session with Puan, Fattan Faydzulhaq also raised the complexity of the legislative process in the DPR. He learned about this after simulating the legislative process during the 2025 Parja programme.

“It turns out that drafting a law is not as easy as turning the palm of one’s hand, because I experienced it myself during the simulation at Parja. I explained this to my friends,” said Fattan, who is now a law student at Airlangga University.

Puan explained the process of drafting and deliberating bills in the DPR. She explained why some laws are deliberated quickly while others take longer.

“Bills that are deliberated quickly are usually those with only minor changes, such as one verse or one article. Those that start from scratch usually take longer. The deliberation process between the DPR and the government requires time,” Puan explained.

The best Parja participants of 2025 and 2026 also held discussions with other DPR members present at the audience. They gained considerable understanding of parliamentary issues, such as the issue of women’s representation in the DPR, which was raised by Deputy Chair of BKSAP Irine Yusiana Roba.

“The DPR is currently making history because Ibu Puan is the first woman to become Speaker of the DPR in Indonesia. Under the Speaker’s leadership, a number of gender-friendly laws have been enacted, and women’s representation in the DPR has also increased. When women are empowered, the nation will be strong,” Irine said.

Member of Commission XI of the DPR RI, Pinka Hapsari, emphasised that the DPR is always open to public aspirations. She also shared her experience as one of the younger members of the DPR.

“Decision-making is indeed not easy, but the DPR continues to work to produce the best outcomes for the people. The DPR is also always open, because commission meetings can be watched live by the public,” Pinka said.

Member of Commission V of the DPR, Herviano, stated that he is ready to fight for the aspirations of the Parja DPR participants, such as aspirations regarding infrastructure improvement in the regions.

“Aspirations regarding infrastructure will continue to be championed in the commission, especially in Commission V of the DPR, which oversees infrastructure affairs,” Herviano said.

At the end of the meeting, the best Parja DPR participants of 2024-2025 conveyed their hopes for the DPR, including that the institution should remain a positive and transparent forum and always stand for the Indonesian people.

“May the DPR continue to be a vessel for the people’s voice and carry out checks and balances,” said a representative of the exemplary Parja 2024 participants, Jovanka Anabelle Garcia Silaban.

On that occasion, Puan left a message for the best Parja DPR participants of 2024-2026.

“The Youth Parliament programme is intended for participants to understand how parliament works. Parja participants can explain the experiences and knowledge gained during Parja, including through social media. Do not fall prey to hoaxes,” Puan said.

“We hope the Parja DPR programme can be beneficial for participants. We hope Parja participants can see that there are still many people working in the DPR, but their work is simply not covered by the media,” she said.