Puan Affirms DPR Will Oversee Customs Reform and Children's Mental Health Issues

House of Representatives Speaker Puan Maharani outlined the various activities undertaken by the DPR in accordance with its constitutional functions, noting that children’s mental health — including threats from child grooming — has become a key concern for the legislature.

She made the remarks whilst closing the Plenary Session marking the end of the Third Session Period of the 2025-2026 Parliamentary Year, held at the plenary chamber of the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Thursday (19 February). Puan was accompanied by fellow DPR leaders, namely Deputy Speakers Saan Mustopa, Cucun Ahmad Syamsurijal, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad and Sari Yuliati.

In her closing address, Puan elaborated on the House’s performance across its legislative, budgetary and oversight functions.

“The DPR, through the Legislation Body, is conducting an evaluation of the National Legislation Programme to ensure that the laws to be enacted are aligned with national legal requirements as well as the aspirations and needs of development,” Puan said.

Several bills currently under preparation by the DPR include the Food Bill, the National Education System Bill, the Labour Bill and the Hajj Financial Management Bill.

The House is also deliberating amendments to Law No. 4 of 2023 on the Development and Strengthening of the Financial Sector, in compliance with a Constitutional Court ruling.

According to Puan, the completion of legislation represents a joint constitutional effort between the DPR and the Government — a political commitment that is not merely administrative but moral and statesmanlike.

“A shared political commitment between the DPR and the Government to realise public order, expand the people’s welfare, proportionally limit state apparatus authority, and protect the people’s interests fairly and with civility,” she continued.

On the budgetary function, Puan said the relevant DPR committees and bodies, together with their government counterparts, had discussed evaluations of the implementation of the 2025 State Budget (APBN).

“This evaluation is not merely a set of notes, but material for future performance improvements towards ever-better state financial management,” Puan stressed.

She further noted that fiscal policy for the 2026 budget year is focused on achieving food, energy and economic sovereignty towards a resilient, self-reliant and prosperous Indonesia.

“The implementation of the 2026 State Budget must be able to address the needs of the public, improve the quality of public services, and accelerate development so that its benefits are felt by the people,” she said.

During this session period, Puan said the DPR and the Government had also discussed the issue of deactivated BPJS Healthcare accounts for Contribution Assistance Recipients (PBI), reaching an agreement that the Government should maximise the budget already allocated in the State Budget with accurate targeting data. The Government was also asked to verify and update decile classifications using the latest comparative data.

“And within the next three months, all healthcare services shall continue to be provided and the contributions for assistance recipients shall be paid by the Government,” Puan added.

Puan also detailed a number of issues under the DPR’s oversight function, including the handling of cases involving Indonesian citizens abroad, children’s mental health, and the protection of children from child grooming threats.

The DPR is also monitoring the evaluation of policies on the regulation of abandoned areas and land, the improvement of public services in border regions and disaster-affected areas, including post-disaster health sector recovery.

Further oversight areas include the modernisation of military equipment (alutsista), the evaluation of law enforcement in handling cases involving vulnerable groups, preparations for the 2026 economic census, incentives for farmers to expand agricultural employment, and the strengthening of the digital ecosystem for inclusive economic growth.

Additional matters of concern include internal reform of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise to optimise state revenue, the implementation of flexible Domestic Market Obligation policies for coal in the national interest, capital market regulation, and the welfare and employment status of private madrasah teachers.

Regarding preparations for the 1447 H/2026 hajj pilgrimage, Puan said the DPR is paying close attention to the quality of services for pilgrims, particularly accommodation, catering, transportation and healthcare during stays in Arafah, Muzdalifah and Mina.

“The Government should draw up mitigation plans to anticipate emergencies that could disrupt pilgrim services,” Puan said.

Puan stated that the DPR is also paying considerable attention to the Government’s follow-up efforts to accelerate reconstruction and rehabilitation in disaster-affected areas, namely Aceh, North Sumatra, West Sumatra and other affected regions.

“Every decision from working meetings between the DPR and the Government is not merely an administrative agreement, but a constitutional mandate that must be followed up concretely. Decisions do not end as documents, but become policies with a direct impact on the people,” she explained.

She added that following up on working meeting decisions is not merely procedural compliance, but a manifestation of the Government’s political commitment to resolving real problems faced by the public — whether in economics, public services, law enforcement or social welfare.

During this session, the DPR also gave its approval, consideration and consultation on the appointment and/or selection of public and non-public officials. These included Constitutional Court judge candidates nominated by the DPR, candidates for the Indonesian Ombudsman, a candidate for Deputy Governor of Bank Indonesia, and candidates for the Supervisory Board of the Deposit Insurance Corporation (LPS) for the 2023-2028 period.

Other appointments involved candidates for the National Zakat Agency from civil society, candidates for the supervisory boards of BPJS Healthcare and BPJS Employment representing workers, employers and community figures, as well as candidates for Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassadors of friendly nations to the Republic of Indonesia.

Following the session’s closure, the DPR will enter its recess period from 20 February to 9 March 2026. Puan wished members well as they enter the recess to engage with constituents.

“It is time for us to enter the recess period to greet, listen to, and absorb the aspirations of the people, and to convey to them the constitutional duties carried out by the DPR, as well as to unite the people in the spirit of gotong royong to build Indonesia,” she said.

“On behalf of the DPR leadership, I wish all DPR members and the people of Indonesia a blessed fasting month. May our worship be accepted by Allah SWT,” Puan concluded.