The Great Critics Council

THERE is no pressing need for the House of Representatives (DPR) and the government to revive the Supreme Advisory Council (DPA). Instead of displaying a desire to form a clean government, President-elect Prabowo Subianto is actually looking for a way of giving his supporters a share in power.

Proposed by a number of members of the Gerindra Party, the revision of Law No. 19/2006 changes the Presidential Advisory Board into the Supreme Advisory Council. Deliberations in the DPR’s Legislation Body already began on July 9. Rapidly and without any debate, the nine factions in the DPR agreed to discuss revisions to the law, which was not included in the 2020-2024 Priority National Legislation Program.

It is easy to guess that Joko Widodo is almost certain to welcome this proposal. The President will then issue a document appointing a government representative to participate in the deliberations of the revisions to the law, which is targeted for completion just before the new government is formed next October.

This new law does not have any substantive content apart from the change of name and staffing structure. The organization will not be the same as the DPA of the New Order regime. As well as not being a senior state institution, the DPA will be no different from the Presidential Advisory Board, which is nothing more than a body to support the work of the president. The draft revision will only change the provision regarding the number of members, which was previously limited to eight, but will now be at the full discretion of the president.

The proposal to give the president the authority to determine the DPA membership is in line with Prabowo’s plan to establish a presidential club, which was announced in May. According to Prabowo, this presidential club will be a forum for former presidents to meet with the president-elect. It will be difficult not to see this gathering of former presidents as an effort to accommodate those who supported Prabowo in February’s presidential election.

The establishment of the DPA without any limits on the number of members also gives Prabowo the right to give a slice of power to more people. At present, Prabowo is trying to work out how to accommodate members of all the parties in the coalition supporting him. He has already increased the number of ministerial posts from 34 to 40.

From the organizational point of view, the DPA will not improve the system of government or make the organization of government any more effective. Without any special powers, recommendations issued by the DPA will only justify government policies. In other words, the DPA will become a rubber stamp. Another possibility is that the DPA will only be a political instrument to muzzle critics. We have often seen those with dissenting voices being given positions in order to soften their criticism.

Furthermore, the DPA is bound to be a burden on state finances. As well as receiving salaries and facilities, the DPA members will be given staff and supporting organizations. At a time of economic disarray—with Rp800 trillion of foreign debt due for repayment this year—the DPA will only be an additional extravagance.

What Prabowo needs is not an advisory council whose supremacy is uncertain. Prabowo needs critics who continually examine his policies. With such a large coalition behind him, in practice, there is no significant opposition to Prabowo.

Even when coalition parties have differing opinions, this may well be simply a way of increasing their bargaining position for cabinet seats or for the sharing out of economic concessions. And do not place any hope in opposition parties. After Prabowo’s inauguration on October 20, it is believed that the most critical parties will join the new government for fear of missing out.

This Great Critics Council—as we will call it—would be tasked with building a national critical ecosystem. Members could work together with non-governmental organizations, the press or other critical groups. This council would not be established to bring down the government—because it would be a part of the government—but as a body tasked with asking questions about government policies.

And most importantly, members of the Great Critics Council must be suspended if they are proved to have curried favor or are just trying to keep the boss happy.