Strengthening DPD's Legislative Function Deemed Crucial for Accommodating Regional Aspirations
The Regional Representative Council (DPD RI) has emphasised the importance of strengthening its legislative function so that the aspirations of communities across various regions can be more optimally accommodated in the formation of national policy. This strengthening is considered a key prerequisite for maintaining national unity and resilience amidst the diverse conditions and needs of each region.
The view was conveyed by a senior DPD RI official, Syulfah Sari Dewi Syam, during a presentation of an individual scientific paper at the National Resilience Institute (Lemhannas) RI’s National Leadership Preparation and Consolidation Programme in 2026.
In the paper, Syulfah asserted that the DPD RI holds a strategic position as a bridge between regional interests and the direction of national policy. “Indonesia cannot be built solely from the top down. The aspirations of the people from Aceh to Papua must receive equal space in the national legislative process,” she stated.
According to Syulfah, sustainable national development can only be achieved if every region feels involved in the decision-making process. Consequently, the resulting legal products will be more responsive to the needs of the people on the ground and capable of strengthening a sense of justice between regions.
She also assessed that the DPD RI’s constitutional authority to propose and deliberate on certain bills has not yet been fully able to convert regional aspirations into national legal products. The chamber’s limited role in the legislative process means that much input from the regions has not been optimally accommodated.
To address these challenges, Syulfah recommended a number of strategic steps, including regulatory harmonisation, the implementation of Constitutional Court rulings related to the DPD’s authority, the development of a digital system for Community and Regional Aspirations (ASMASDA), and the strengthening of synergy between state institutions.
She expressed hope that these recommendations could serve as material for consideration in refining the national legislative system, enabling the DPD RI to carry out its role more effectively as a regional representative body. “Strengthening the DPD RI is, in essence, strengthening the state’s presence in all corners of Indonesia. A resilient nation is born when every region feels heard, valued, and involved in determining the direction of national development,” she concluded.