Receiving KWP Award, Puan Says DPR's Work Needs Media Oversight

House of Representatives Speaker Puan Maharani has stressed the importance of the media’s role in overseeing parliamentary work to keep it transparent and accessible to the wider public. She made this statement while receiving an award from the Parliamentary Journalists’ Coordinating Body (KWP) at the KWP Awards 2026 event held in the Pustakaloka Room, Nusantara IV Building, Parliamentary Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, on Thursday (16/4/2026). According to Puan, the DPR cannot operate in isolation without media support as a bridge of information to the public. “We know that the DPR RI cannot work in a vacuum,” Puan said in a press release received by Kompas.com. She emphasised that in every legislative process, from public hearings and bill discussions to decision-making, the DPR needs public aspirations as a basis for consideration. “And one important source of those public aspirations can be obtained through the media that bridges them via reporting,” she added. “Because what the DPR RI does needs to be told accurately, clearly, and reach the wider public,” said the former Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture. On that occasion, Puan received the award as a Figure Guarding Pro-Women Policies from KWP. The award certificate was handed over symbolically by KWP Chairman Ariawan. Puan expressed appreciation for the award and viewed the KWP Awards as more than just a ceremony, but a moment to reflect on the relationship between the legislative institution and the world of journalism. “This is an important moment for all of us to reflect on the relationship between the legislative institution and the world of journalism, a relationship that becomes one of the main keys to the strength of Indonesian democracy,” she stated. Furthermore, Puan considered the cooperation between the DPR and the media to be very necessary to ensure that the struggle for the people is known widely. She also highlighted the important role of parliamentary journalists who not only serve as witnesses to the legislative process but also as translators of policy to the public. “Parliamentary journalist friends are not only eyewitnesses to the legislative process but also translators between policy language and the everyday language of the people,” Puan said.