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Newcomer PSI aims to be ‘agent of change’ in Jakarta Legislative Council
The party, backed by many young urban middle class voters, has the sixth-largest number of seats in the council and is set to prove its contribution through legislative avenues, members say.
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People pass a line of flower boards at the Jakarta City Council building in Central Jakarta on Monday. Some 106 newly elected councilors were sworn in on Monday for the 2019-2024 period. (JP/Syelanita)
T
he inauguration of new members for the City Council for the 2019-2024 period on Monday officially marked the arrival of the newcomer Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI), which seeks to bring about changes as a legislative partner with the Jakarta administration.
Eight elected councilors from the PSI were sworn in among 106 councilors at the City Council building in Central Jakarta. The party, backed by many young urban middle class voters, has the sixth-largest number of seats in the council and is set to prove its contribution through legislative avenues, members say.
Councilor Idris Ahmad from the PSI said the party would prioritize three main issues, namely to boost the follow-up on public complaints, improve budget planning and the transparency of the process, and ensure inclusivity for women, children and marginalized groups.
As a newcomer to politics, 28-year-old Idris said the party's elected councilors had prepared themselves immediately after the Jakarta General Election Commission (KPU Jakarta) officially announced the legislative election results in May.
“After the announcement, we held a series of training seminars for a month on governance, public policy and other issues. We also gathered public aspirations,” he told reporters after the inauguration.
As a newcomer to the legislative body, he emphasized that he and his fellow PSI councilors were willing to learn from "senior" councilors.
“In principle, we are open to communication. We want to learn from our seniors and establish coordination on things we aim to realize,” he added.
