732 Members Of Indonesia’s People’s Consultative Assembly Sworn In

By Mohd Iswandi Kasan Anuar

JAKARTA, Oct 1 (Bernama) -- A total of 732 members of Indonesia’s People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) for the 2024-2029 term were officially sworn in during a session at the Parliament building in Central Jakarta on Tuesday.

The new assembly includes 580 members from the House of Representatives (DPR) and 152 members from the Regional Representative Council (DPD), all of whom had previously taken their oaths in separate sessions earlier in the day.

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The session was temporarily chaired by the oldest member, Guntur Sasono, 78, alongside the youngest member, Larasati Moriska, 22. Chief Justice Muhammad Syarifuddin witnessed the swearing-in ceremony.

The newly sworn members will serve in Parliament for the next five years, following legislative elections that coincided with the Presidential and Vice-Presidential elections on February 14.

In his closing remarks, Guntur expressed gratitude and pride for the previous MPR’s leadership and members, acknowledging their successful fulfilment of constitutional duties in advancing society and the nation.

“Moving forward, this responsibility will fall upon all of us. I hope we can carry out these duties with integrity and place the interests of the nation above all else,” he said during a session attended by President Joko Widodo, who is set to hand over power to President-elect Prabowo Subianto on October 20.

The afternoon parliamentary session will continue with several important agendas, including the election of the speakers for the MPR, DPR, and DPD.

The MPR, as the highest legislative body, is responsible for amending the constitution and inaugurating the president and vice president.

The DPR serves as the lower chamber, tasked with drafting laws, approving budgets, and overseeing the executive branch, while the DPD represents the provinces and focuses on regional issues.

Among the newly appointed members, 25 artists have joined the MPR, with two elected to the DPD and 23 to the DPR, including notable figures Melly Goeslaw and Ahmad Dhani Prasetyo, who is committed to enhancing the music industry.

The Malay Customary Institution of Riau has expressed hope that the elected members from Riau will advocate for regional interests and cultural preservation, particularly in securing budget allocations that can improve infrastructure, education, healthcare, and economic development in the area.

“We hope that representatives can promote policies that support the sustainable management of natural resources, especially regarding issues of forest and land fires,” said Chair of the Daily Leadership Council, Datuk Setia Taufik Ikram Jamil in a statement.

-- BERNAMA