Hunting for Acting Regional Heads
A number of House Commission II members said they were also frequently approached by ASNs who were eyeing a position as acting head.
Holding the strategic position of secretary in the United Development Party (PPP) faction at the House of Representatives (DPR) as well as the party vice chairman, Baidowi has become the "target" of lobbyists advocating for state civil servants (ASN) seeking to become acting regional heads.
With his strategic position, Baidowi is considered capable of influencing the Home Ministry, the authority that determines the acting heads of regional administrations.
"Some offered money in return. There are also those who promise to ‘protect’ the PPP's votes in the 2024 General Election," Baidowi told Kompas at the DPR in Jakarta last week.
Also read:
Focus on Quality 2024 General Elections
As for the amount of money, one lobbyist left it to Baidowi to decide. "’The amount is rational and we can afford it,’ the official said,” Baidowi said. As for the PPP vote, the lobbyist promised to help boost the PPP’s votes so it would exceed the 4 percent legislative threshold as stipulated in the Elections Law.
Not only civil servants, but other people who claimed to be intermediaries have also approached him.
"They claimed to be close to a certain ASN, offering a similar [fee] if I could help that ASN be elected as acting regional head," he said.
/https%3A%2F%2Fasset.kgnewsroom.com%2Fphoto%2Fpre%2F2019%2F02%2F18%2F0dd0e4d5-6434-4460-bf68-806b5cadfaf2_jpg.jpg){kind=logo}
Achmad Baidowi .
Baidowi acknowledged that he was not tempted by such offers. However, he did not rule out the possibility that some political parties might be tempted. Such lobbying efforts mainly concerned being appointed an acting regent or a mayor, because it was the Home Minister who had the authority to do so. It was common for political parties to recommend certain candidates for such positions.
"Well, political parties may recommend a name to the Home Ministry. If it fits in line with the regulation, you can try it, why not, but for the position of an acting governor, it is difficult because it’s the President who decides," he said.
Commission II lawmaker Guspandi Gaus from the National Mandate Party said such lobbying activities were generally unseen.
A number of House Commission II members said they were also frequently approached by ASNs who were eyeing a position as acting head. Commission II lawmaker Guspandi Gaus from the National Mandate Party said such lobbying activities were generally unseen. "They conduct their activities in secret,” he said.
House Commission II, which oversees home affairs, is deemed able to influence the ministry. In fact, according to Guspandi, it was not only ASNs that were making such efforts, and some members of Commission II had even been asked by their own political parties to approach certain ASNs and offer their help in recommending their candidacy to the Home Ministry.
Guspardi Gaus
"Both ASN and political parties are active" in making such efforts, Guspandi said. According to him, political parties also often supported certain ASNs to becoming acting regional heads with the hope that once they were appointed, they would not hinder the party's regional activities or might even help the party gain more votes in the 2024 General Election.
Lobbying team
Before his party, the National Awakening Party, moved him from his position as the deputy chairman of House Commission II in early April, Luqman Hakim acknowledged that he was once approached by an ASN who was seeking an appointment as acting regional head. The ASN was not working alone and had the help of a political broker.
“It was like a lobbying team. They act as brokers to help ASNs be appointed to fill important positions in a number of regions, not just one [region],” Luqman said. Lobbying through intermediaries had been occurring since the end of last year.
The Home Ministry’s regional autonomy director general in 2015-2019, Soni Sumarsono, confirmed Luqman's account. Lobbyists were active in many regions. "So, they’re like traders. They get paid by the ASN for lobbying [on their behalf]," he said.
Third, it also received horizontal pressure, such as from certain figures of authority in the region.
On the Home Ministry’s side, Soni said, it also received pressure from other sides when appointing certain candidates as acting regent or mayor. First, pressure came from above, such as political parties and the House. Second, pressure came from below, such as a governor. Third, it also received horizontal pressure, such as from certain figures of authority in the region.
“There is lobbying at every stage. They often use friendly connections or engage in ‘monetizing’ practices to ensure that the people they lobby for are appointed. There is [some kind of] transaction involved. Although it can't be proved, we can smell it," he said.
Soni Sumarsono.
In dealing with this situation, Soni acknowledged that the Home Ministry usually followed the governor’s recommendation. Usually, the first of the three proposed candidates was the most prioritized.
The second option was to follow the Home Minister’s discretion. A Home Minister usually selected one of the three candidates the governor had proposed. This was considered the safest way because the director general of regional autonomy must carry out the minister’s order.
"As to the reasons behind it, we have no right to ask questions," said Soni.
Strategic acting roles
According to Luqman, ASNs were willing to do anything to be appointed as an acting regent or a mayor because they were strategic positions. An acting regional head had almost the same powers as an elected regional head. In fact, an acting regional head could serve for up to 2.5 years once the terms of
101 elected regional heads ended in mid-May 2022 until a new regional head was elected in the 2024 simultaneous regional elections.
“If you become a regional head through the regional election, you can spend up to Rp 30 billion [in campaign fees]. If you become an acting regional head, you don't need to spend that much money. Plus, they lead the region on their own, there is no deputy, so they have a lot of authority," said Luqman.
Luqman Hakim
Over their relatively long tenure, ASNs who were appointed as acting regional heads could build their image, popularity, and electability so they might have the chance to participate in the 2024 regional head elections.
ASN Commission chairman Agus Pramusinto said that, with a long term and authority, acting regional heads could appoint people to certain positions. In addition, they could also organize resources and programs to help certain political parties in the general elections or the candidates from those political parties that had supported them in being appointed as acting regional head.
Incumbent regional autonomy director general Akmal Malik said that in principle, the ministry accepted all inputs, but stressed that they must all abide by the rules.
The appointment of acting regional heads is regulated in the Regional Administration Law, Regional Head Elections Law, ASN Law, Government Regulation No. 6/2005 on electing, appointing and dismissing regional heads and deputy regional heads, as well as Government Regulation No. 49/2008 on the Third Amendment to Government Regulation No. 6/2005.
Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian at a working meeting with Commission II of the DPR in Senayan, Jakarta, Monday (13/7/2020).
Article 132, Paragraph 1 of Government Regulation No. 6/2005 states that civil servants serving as acting regional heads must meet a number of requirements and criteria, including experience in government offices as documented in their performance records. The appointed officials must also be qualified, possess integrity, and be neutral.
Above all, however, the President and the Home Minister have the authority to appoint an acting regional head or mayor.
(This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi)
