THE HOUSE OF REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVES

OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA

Jakarta, November 8th, 2008

AN OVERSIGHT AS ONE OF DPD RI’S

FUNCTIONS AND GOVERNMENT
ACCOUNTABILITY TO
THE SOCIETY AT LARGE

BY HAMDHANI

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 DEWAN PERWAKILAN DAERAH
REPUBLIK INDONESIA
Abbreviated as DPD RI or Indonesian Senate, is a
state institution consisting of people’s
representatives, 33
provinces (the regions),
fighting for regional
aspirations and
interests.

Plenary meeting of DPD-RI

As compromised with the Indonesian Parliament and one
of the DPD RI’s main functions is entrusted to bridge
intergovernmental relations between the central
government and the regional government and at the
same time to oversee the activities on both institutions.
To carry out the people’s mandate beyond
the call of duty, the DPD RI has the
responsibility for holding both Governments
to account by overseeing its work and
meeting so that is does not infringe on the
rights of citizens and does not lead to the
wastage of state
resources and its
constituent with
the public interest.
Article 22 D (3) of the 1945 Constitution
(Indonesian Constitution) mentioned that the DPD
should oversee the implementation of laws
concerning:
1. Regional Autonomy
2. Formation, Expansion, and Merger of Provinces
3. Relation between Central – Local Government
4. Management of Natural Resources
5. Implementation of State Budget and its Balance
Budget between the Central and Local Government
6. Taxation, Education and Religion

The results of the said oversight will be submitted

to Parliament (The House of Representatives/DPR)
for their consideration.
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From 2004-2008, DPD has conducted
oversight of the implementation of no. 1, 2,
3 and 4 above in consultation with the
regional stakeholders in government and
civil society through the Clearing House
(Public Aspiration) in each region. It
formulated solution to key problems
directly, effecting the implementation of
the Regional Authority. Follow by no. 4, 5,
and 6 in the same format as above with the
relevant departments (institution) and
maintain close contact with them. In this
way their plans can adequately reflect the
real needs and concern of the people
welfare. www.senatorhamdhani.blogspot.com
After all in a number of ways such as DPD
receiving the regular reports from both side
Central Government and Regions on their
activities, putting questions and using
interpellation to members of Executive, setting
up special committee and organizing field visit
to carry out enquiries into Executive conduct
and remedial action.

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The result of oversight among others as:
2. Amendment Law no. 22 of 2003, no. 32 of 2004 and
no. 33 of 2004, all concerning the regional autonomy
and its relevant. This is done by DPD after making
consultation with stakeholders in government and civil
society in the region or through the Clearance House
(People’s Aspiration) which is located in each region.
This is also done by the DPD after receiving aspiration
of the region and DPD feel that these 3 (three) laws are
not in line
with the essential spirit
of the regional autonomy
accordingly.
2. The problem most strongly found in the region is
continuing injustice in allocation of the proceeds from
management and utilization of national resource and its
relevant.
For example:
Many regions such as Aceh, Riau, East Kalimantan,
Central Kalimantan and Papua have great economic
distribution to the Central Government, but have not
received a sufficient allocation of this revenue to finance
development in the regions from which their contribution
device. The DPD as representatives of the region and
emanation of civil society are seeking well managed
professionally in solving the problems by comparing with
other well organized and respected regions.
3. Related to oversight no.5 and
no.6 concerning the Bill on
National Budget related to the
financial balance between the
center and the regions. DPD in
this case need lobbying various
related parties that strongly
influence the success of the
proposed to obtain adequate
budget allocation from the State
Budget and Regional Budget
these include the budget for
education, taxation and religion.
Therefore the focus in oversight of DPD RI is concentrated in
the Budget for obtaining suitable and adequate basic social
service as fundamental right of every citizen, especially with
regard to the need to provide basic living standards on a
minimum level for the people welfare. Furthermore this is in
considering and coincide with the 7 points of 2008 National
Budget’s priority by the
Government to realize,
namely: poverty
alleviation, unemployment
reduction, educational
quality, health, basic
infrastructure, public
services, and
corruption eradication.
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 TO THIS END
Apparently due to the government has signed the latest international
agreement on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), it is need to
stressing the following:

4.DPD has an important oversight role over the government’s

performance in implementing health policies. This is because the
provision of improved health services to the public is the core of
regional autonomy as we note 1945 Constitution Article 22 D (3)
mandated DPD RI to oversee the implementation of land enacting
the regional autonomy. It’s followed by the public’s right to basic
education by assuring delivery of agreement targets.

6.Don’t violate the principles of DPD RI’s independence and

autonomy in accordance with provisions of the prevailing laws and
regulations, and based on principles of equality and mutual benefit,
and are open for reporting and accountable to the General Public
(transparency of external assistance to the DPD RI).

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 LAST BUT NOT LEAST
2. For the Republic of Indonesia DPD has a vital role to play in
assuring that all people can contribute their performances
to the well-being of their communities and society and for
the world through MDG’s.
3. However and as far as DPD RI concerned its holy duty in
oversighting the action made by the Executives (Central
and Local Government),
it is depend upon
both their behavior and
attitude.

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com
 Government must assume its responsibility and mobilize
skills to entire flow of informationto citizens.
The tradition of secrecy should be discarded. In fact, the
oath of secrecy should be replaced with the oath of
transparency. While the right information is means of
determining justness (or lack there of) of the
Government’s action, it should accord high importance to
the public interest in creating good governance.

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com
www.senatorhamdhani.blogspot.com