Indonesian Parliament Approves Rule Changes to Strengthen Oversight of Appointed Officials

JAKARTA, investortrust.id - Indonesia's parliament has approved changes to its rules, granting itself greater power to oversee and potentially remove appointed officials who have undergone a parliamentary vetting process.

The revisions to the Rules of Procedure, approved on Tuesday, Feb 4, 2025, allow the House of Representatives (DPR) to conduct periodic evaluations of officials who have previously undergone a fit-and-proper test, and to recommend their removal if their performance is deemed unsatisfactory.

Deputy Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad explained that the revisions clarify the DPR's authority to assess officials under certain conditions, such as concerns about their fitness to serve due to health reasons.

 "For instance, if an official in an institution has served for 25 years and is now nearing the retirement age of 70 but is frequently unwell, we must conduct a fit-and-proper test to assess whether they can still perform their duties effectively," Dasco said at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Jakarta. "If they are no longer capable, we must initiate the necessary mechanisms to replace them with someone more suitable for the role."

Chairman of the DPR's Legislative Body, Bob Hasan, further elaborated that the new rules empower lawmakers to evaluate whether an official's performance aligns with expectations set during their initial selection process. "In the end, this is about the continuation or dismissal of officials who have been approved through the DPR’s fit-and-proper test," Hasan said.

The revised DPR Rules of Procedure, an amendment to Regulation No. 1/2020, were ratified during the House’s 12th plenary session of the 2024-2025 legislative year. Deputy Speaker Adies Kadir, presiding over the session, sought the approval of all factions, asking, "Can we agree?" The attending members responded in unison, "Agreed."

The revisions, which were carried out under the directive of the DPR leadership and supported by all factions during a meeting on Feb 3, 2025, include the addition of a new article, Article 228A. This article outlines the DPR's evaluation powers:

Article 228A

(1) To enhance the DPR’s oversight function and uphold the integrity of the legislative process, the House may conduct periodic evaluations of officials appointed through plenary decisions as per Article 227, Paragraph (2).

(2) The results of such evaluations shall be binding and will be submitted by the relevant parliamentary commission to the House leadership for further action in accordance with existing mechanisms.