Legislator proposes electing regional heads without deputies to tackle 'vote getter' issue

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Muhammad Khozin, a member of Commission II of the House of Representatives (DPR RI), has proposed that regional elections (pilkada) be held solely to elect the regional head, whilst the deputy would be appointed by the elected regional head.

Speaking at a Commission II DPR RI meeting with the Ministry of Home Affairs as well as regional heads and their deputies in Jakarta on Thursday, Khozin put forward the idea to prevent deputy regional heads from being used merely as vote getters in regional elections.

“What should the second solution be? Amend the Regional Elections Law. Let us elect only the regional head, without a deputy. The deputy regional head can simply be appointed by the regional head. This is so they do not become mere vote getters — one feels sorry for the current deputy regional heads,” he said.

Khozin said the issue had been raised when Commission II of the DPR RI received a delegation from the Association of Deputy Regional Heads.

“This problem is a problem by system, not by person, because nearly 60 per cent of the data we have from the regions shows disharmony between the regional head and the deputy regional head,” he said.

“As long as no delegation of authority is granted by the regional head, the deputy regional head cannot do anything. They have no role at all. They spend five years shut away in a room, or merely attending annual forums,” Khozin said.

He stressed that this situation must not be allowed to continue, as it runs counter to the spirit of democracy and regional autonomy.