The 2014-2019 House of Representatives (DPR) is counting the days until it ends on Oct. 1, when the members of the 2019-2024 DPR will be sworn in.
We certainly hope that the old DPR will not leave behind a bad legacy in the time that remains. On the other hand, the new DPR must be ready to hold a respectable session to regain public trust in the legislature on its first day in Senayan, and not merely battle for leadership slots.
The old DPR has several strategic jobs left to finish before the end of its term. Ratifying the Criminal Code (KUHP) Bill is one. Since the public still has many questions regarding the formulation of several articles in the bill, it will be good if the DPR does not forcibly pass it into law.
Once the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) leadership selection committee submits the list of 10 candidates for the 2019-2023 term, the President must submit the list to the DPR no later than 14 working days from the date of receipt. This means that the current DPR must determine whether it will make the final selection during the next few days of its final session, or hand the task over to the incoming legislature.
In considering the various public views on the performance of the 2014-2019 DPR, it is better that the various strategic tasks be entrusted to the 575 lawmakers of the next DPR. It cannot be denied that the public’s trust in the 2014-2019 DPR is very low.
The people are instead putting their hopes in the next DPR. The Kompas R&D poll on 21-22 Aug. 2019 shows that 63.3 percent of respondents believed that the new DPR members would perform better, with only 26.3 percent responding “unsure” and the rest responding that they did not know. This could be an important asset in gaining public legitimacy.
The people also believe that the many young lawmakers in the incoming DPR will fight for the public interest: 52 incoming legislators are 38 years and under, and 259 incoming legislators fall in the productive age group of 39-54 years. These young legislators, who comprise more than half the incoming DPR, are expected to usher in the winds of change.
Aside from their expectations for legislative reform, the people are of course hoping that the new DPR will be more transparent and will avoid corruption. The next DPR should exhibit moral sensitivity and professional discipline, and set an example in obeying the law. As the KPK has cautioned in the last few days, the fact that many elected legislators still have not submitted their wealth reports to the General Election Commission will be the first test.
The "white" caucus must control the session, rather than the "black" caucus: They tread the streets of the outskirts when in recess; they listen to marginalized groups; it is their voices that rise up to defend the people and cannot be silenced.