The inauguration of 580 new members of the House of Representatives (DPR) for the 2024-2029 term on Tuesday, October 1, 2024 has sparked public scrutiny.
Among the newly sworn-in legislators are several notable figures from the entertainment community, as well as numerous individuals with family ties to public officials and political elites.
According to a report from the Forum of Indonesian Parliamentary Watchers (Formappi), 79 out of the 580 members of the new parliament have familial connections to other elected candidates or to current or former officials, as well as political party elites at both national and regional levels.
Further research by Katadata.co.id reveals two additional names, including Edhie Baskoro Yudhoyono, the youngest son of the country’s sixth president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Romy Soekarno, the grandson of Indonesia's first president, Sukarno.
Formappi researcher Lucius Karus pointed out that many of the newly elected members are relatives of government officials or party figures, stating that a large number of elected candidates are the children of officials, such as current or former DPR members, governors, or regional heads.
"The largest number of politically affiliated members are those with family ties to public officials, which raises concerns about narrowing the space for diverse representation," Lucius said on Wednesday, October 2, 2024.
As an example, the Gerindra Party is represented by three married couples in the new DPR. These include Himmatul Aliyah, the wife of Ahmad Muzani, Gerindra’s Secretary-General and an elected lawmaker from Lampung, while Aliyah is an elected lawmaker for the same party who had run in the February 2024 legislative election as a candidate from Jakarta.
Another couple, Marlyn Maisarah and Sugiono, were elected from West Java and Central Java, respectively.
Additionally, celebrity couple Mulan Jameela and Ahmad Dhani were both elected from different constituencies.
Lucius further highlighted that several children of high-profile politicians are also taking seats in the new parliament. Among them is Sandi Fitrian Nur, the son of South Kalimantan Governor Sahbirin Noor, who ran as a Golkar Party candidate.
Puan Maharani, daughter of former President Megawati Soekarnoputri, has also been re-elected, along with her daughter, Diah Pikatan Orissa Putri Haprani. This marks a continuation of strong political family legacies in Indonesia.
Formappi’s research indicates that West Java has the highest number of politically affiliated new legislators, with nine representatives tied to political dynasties.
Other regions, such as South Sulawesi and North Sumatra, follow closely behind with seven each, while Central Java, East Java, and Lampung each has six representatives from political families.
Lucius expressed concern that the growing number of parliament members with family connections to political elites could undermine the DPR’s effectiveness, limiting opportunities for non-affiliated individuals to advocate for broader public interests.
"This creates a higher potential for corruption and collusion, and the presence of so many family members in the DPR could foster conflicts of interest," he warned.
Some prominent new members with political family ties include:
- Jamaluddin Idham (PDI-P, Aceh I), son of Jamin Idham, former Regent of Nagan Raya;
- I Nyoman Adi Wiryatama (PDI-P, Bali), father of former Tabanan Regent, Ni Putu Eka Wirastuti;
- Rizki Aulia Rahman Natakusumah (Democrat, Banten I), son of DPR member Achmad Dimyati Natakusumah;
- Annisa M.A Mahesa (Gerindra, Banten II), daughter of late DPR member Desmon J. Mahesa;
- Syarifah Ainun Jariyah (PDI-P, Banten II), daughter of retired Police Commissioner General Raden Antam Novandar.
As public interest in political family ties grows, many question how these relationships might influence the direction of legislative efforts and governance in the coming years.
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