Public Reaction to Sahroni's Reinstatement as Commission III Deputy Chair

A number of citizens have responded to Ahmad Sahroni’s reinstatement as Deputy Chair of Commission III following his deactivation in the wake of the mass demonstrations of late August 2025.

Some residents believe Sahroni’s suspension — triggered by his support for security forces arresting underage protesters deemed to have acted anarchically — was merely a stopgap measure to quell public anger at the time.

Others, however, have no objection to the reinstatement, arguing that Sahroni has served his penalty as imposed by both his party and the House Ethics Council (MKD).

Nevertheless, citizens were united in criticising public officials who display a lack of empathy. As recipients of salaries funded by taxpayers, public officials ought to provide education rather than respond to criticism with mockery.

On Thursday (19 February), Sahroni officially resumed his position as a leader of Commission III from the NasDem faction after completing his six-month suspension, which began on 29 August 2025.

At the time, Sahroni was deactivated alongside five other DPR members: Nafa Urbach from NasDem, Adies Kadir from Golkar, and Eko Patrio and Uya Kuya from PAN.

Besides Sahroni, the others have also returned to active duty. Sahroni replaces Rusdi Masse, who previously resigned from NasDem and consequently also stepped down as a DPR member.

“Ahmad Sahroni will be appointed as Deputy Chair of Commission III of the DPR, replacing Rusdi Masse. Therefore, as chair of this session, I will ask the members of Commission III whether Ahmad Sahroni can be approved for appointment as Deputy Chair of Commission III,” said DPR Deputy Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad during an internal Commission III meeting.

“Agreed,” the meeting participants responded.

Don’t be a poison-tongued official

Syah Rizal (31), a private sector worker from Bogor, said he has no objection to Sahroni’s reinstatement as a Commission III leader. According to Rizal, Sahroni has served his punishment from the DPR.

Moreover, Rizal added, the deactivation of DPR members based on statements deemed lacking in empathy has no legal basis. However, he also firmly disagreed with public officials who mock criticism directed at them.

“I disagree with poison-tongued politicians who feel entitled to mock public criticism of them,” Rizal said when met in the South Jakarta area on Friday (20 February).

A cunning strategy

Indah (35), a sales executive from Jakarta, described Sahroni’s appointment to the leadership of the DPR’s Law and Security Commission as a cunning strategy.

According to Indah, Sahroni’s deactivation at the time was merely an effort to quell public anger. However, this solution did not address the root causes or the public’s criticism of the DPR.

Indah admitted she is someone who no longer cares about politics. She only became aware of Sahroni during last August’s protest wave.

“It feels sneaky, doesn’t it? I mean, because you were deactivated. But like, I don’t know, because I feel I’ve become apathetic towards politics. But it just seems cunning — like it was only a temporary mitigation measure,” Indah said when met in the Cilandak area of South Jakarta on Friday (20 February).

A track record is like a tattoo that never fades

Danny (34), a private sector employee from South Tangerang, likened a track record to a tattoo — even if covered up, the mark never disappears from the skin.

According to Danny, the public needs officials who are not only intelligent but also possess empathy, as empathy demonstrates their commitment to ordinary people.

“If their track record already shows an anti-people attitude, the public has every right to doubt whether they can act fairly when ordinary citizens face the law,” Danny said.

“The people are the voters who delivered you to that comfortable seat. So if you think you’re always right and the people are always wrong, step down from that seat,” he added.

Opposition to Sahroni leading Commission III again

Haya Syahira (27), a private sector worker from Bandung, West Java, said she has no objection to Sahroni returning as an active DPR member. However, she objects to Sahroni resuming the leadership of Commission III.

According to her, commission leaders represent their party factions in the DPR. Therefore, appointing Sahroni as a leader is a party strategy that lacks sensitivity to the public.

“The impression will be that officials just need to wait for the uproar to die down — as long as they haven’t broken the law, they can safely return. Just because he wasn’t charged with a legal violation, only an ethical one. Once again, the impression is that ethics are treated as trivial,” Haya said.

She believes Sahroni must be more cautious going forward, as his performance will remain under constant scrutiny, and he also has the task of restoring public trust.

“But here, Sahroni’s challenge is that he needs to work extra hard, be twice as careful to restore public trust. He must be aware that he will constantly be in the spotlight,” she said.

Normalising officials who lack empathy

Arifin (29), a content creator from Cirebon, West Java, argued that Sahroni’s appointment as Commission III leader will serve to normalise officials who lack empathy. He expressed regret that Sahroni also occupies a commission dealing with legal matters.

The appointment also demonstrates that power relations are more important than a public official’s integrity. Administratively, Arifin continued, the appointment is unproblematic. However, it will trigger a crisis of public trust.

“I believe politicians like this need to reform themselves, especially during the fasting month. If a politician cannot control his words and emotions before the public, then fundamentally he is unfit to hold public office,” he said.

The people should be able to dismiss DPR members

Elza (27), an IT specialist from South Tangerang, proposed that the public should be able to dismiss DPR members deemed to be performing inadequately, as they are representatives elected by the people through general elections.

Elza said he disagrees with Sahroni’s reinstatement as Commission III leader, questioning whether the party has considered public sentiment in making the appointment.