Zulhas: PAN Makes Waste Crisis a Legislative Agenda for Council Members

The National Mandate Party (PAN) is taking a different approach to training its legislative members. In a National Workshop attended by thousands of PAN faction members from regional legislative councils (DPRD) across Indonesia in Jakarta, the legislators were positioned as students learning directly about sustainable waste management from environmental care communities and sanitation workers. PAN Chairman Zulkifli Hasan explained that the activity was designed to strengthen the role of regional legislatures in addressing increasingly complex environmental issues. According to him, the waste crisis cannot be solved merely through ceremonial activities or momentary symbolic actions, but requires sustained regulatory and policy support. Therefore, Zulhas said the main outcome of the workshop is not just an increase in participants’ knowledge, but the formulation of a work plan that must be followed up by PAN DPRD members in their respective regions. “PAN DPRD members learn directly in the field and then return home carrying clear homework for their regions,” Zulhas said. He explained that the legislative and budgeting functions held by the DPRD are important instruments to accelerate improvements in waste management governance in the regions. For this reason, he said, the presence of regional regulations supporting waste reduction, strengthening the circular economy, and technology-based waste management is considered an urgent need. “The main task of council members is to ensure the presence of regulations and budget allocations that favour environmental management,” said the Coordinating Minister for Food. PAN views that the waste issue has now evolved into a strategic national issue. Based on data presented at the activity, the Bantargebang Integrated Waste Processing Site is listed as one of the largest methane gas producers from the waste sector in the world. This condition shows that the waste problem is no longer merely related to environmental cleanliness, but impacts public health and climate change control efforts. Meanwhile, Zulhas stated that this activity is PAN’s support for President Prabowo Subianto’s policies in the environmental sector, specifically the implementation of Presidential Regulation Number 109 of 2025 which encourages the transformation of waste into renewable energy sources.