Jember DPRD Member Faces Dismissal After Being Caught Playing Games During Meeting: 'I Regret It, It's My First Time'
Achmad Syahri Assidiqi faces dismissal from his membership in the Jember Regional People’s Representative Council (DPRD), East Java, after undergoing an examination by the Gerindra Party’s Honour Council in Jakarta, on Friday, May 15, 2026. The 25-year-old admitted to regretting his actions of smoking and playing games during a meeting of the DPRD Jember’s Commission D, East Java, earlier this week.
“I regret it, I apologize for my mistake. That’s all I can say, thank you,” said Syahri at the Gerindra Party’s Central Executive Board office, South Jakarta, Friday.
Syahri claimed that it was his first time smoking and playing games on his phone during a meeting. The son of former DPR member, Achmad Fadil Muzakki, also stated that he simply made a mistake at the time.
“I just made a mistake as a human being. It’s my first time (doing it),” he said.
Syahri said he would comply with the reprimand from the Gerindra Party and promised not to repeat his mistake. In addition, Syahri chose not to comment further and reiterated his apology.
The Gerindra Party’s Honour Council issued a reprimand to Syahri, who was found to have violated the Gerindra Party’s Articles of Association or Bylaws (AD/ART). The party’s council assessed that Syahri’s actions had tarnished the name and honour of Gerindra.
As a result, the reprimand is a final warning, and he will be dismissed from his position as a member of the Jember DPRD if he repeats the mistake. The Chairman of the Jember DPRD and also the Chairman of the Gerindra Party’s Jember Branch, Ahmad Halim, accompanied Syahri during the ethics hearing process.
Ahmad Halim said that the Jember DPRD is still waiting for a copy of the decision from the Gerindra Party Council to determine the next steps. He did not explicitly state whether the Jember DPRD would impose its own sanctions.
“This is a firm and final reprimand. As you heard from the decision of the Party Council. This means that if there is another mistake, there will automatically be some form of dismissal,” said Halim.
In the verdict, the chairman of the hearing, Fikrah Auliyaurrahman, said that Syahri was found to have violated the Gerindra Party’s AD/ART and was given a strict reprimand. According to Fikrah, there will be no tolerance for Syahri if he violates the rules again.
“If in the future, Achmad Syahri Assiddiqi Sarjana Ekonomi commits another violation, he will be immediately subject to sanctions in the form of dismissal as a member of the Jember Regency DPRD,” said Fikrah while reading the verdict in the hearing room at the Gerindra DPP office, South Jakarta, on Friday.
A video recording showing Achmad Syahri Assidiqi playing games on his phone while smoking during a meeting discussing stunting has gone viral on social media, including Instagram.
The video was reportedly recorded when Commission D of the Jember DPRD held a hearing with the Health, Population Control and Family Planning Office, the Social Service, BPJS Kesehatan, and representatives from the Community Health Centers, on Monday, May 11.
On May 13, 2026, the Gerindra Party’s Honour Council issued a summons letter with the number 05-012/A/MK-GERINDRA/2026, requesting Syahri to attend the examination hearing.