SURABAYA – Chairman of Indonesian Regional Representative Council (DPD RI) AA LaNyalla Mahmud Mattalitti on Monday (13/5) conducted a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the DPD RI Regional Office of East Java Province on Monday.
Taking place at Jalan Jemur Andayani, Wonocolo, Surabaya, the construction is a new history inscribed by the Chairman in the midst of a moratorium or termination of building construction of ministries and institutions imposed by the central government since 2014 through a letter from the Minister of Finance.
“The construction of the DPD RI Regional Office through a grant mechanism and financial assistance from the East Java Provincial Government is a breakthrough as a solution to the moratorium imposed by the Minister of Finance. This is the first in the history of the DPD RI, and we are making this history in East Java. Big applause for Java East,” LaNyalla said.
During the ceremony, he conveyed his hopes that the incoming government would immediately lift the moratorium as the construction of the DPD RI Regional Office was the mandate of the MD3 Act.
Moreover, DPD RI members in each region are required to absorb aspirations in their regions through existing representative offices.
“It is rather ambiguous if we look at the legal hierarchy, where the mandate of the Law can be stopped by a Ministerial Letter,” he said.
Furthermore, LaNyalla hopes that the construction of regional offices will truly be able to become a channel of aspiration for all stakeholders in East Java.
“The construction of regional offices is a real step in an effort to improve services and absorption of community aspirations and strengthen regional interests which are the main tasks of DPD RI members,” he said in his speech.
With a more representative office, DPD RI members of the East Java constituency are expected to increase efficiency and effectiveness in carrying out their duties, especially in voicing and fighting for the interests of regional governments and the interests of the people in the region.
“Hopefully the construction of this office will run smoothly and according to plan. I also hope that the DPD RI members from the East Java electoral district will be more motivated to get closer and establish a harmonious relationship with the local government and the people in East Java,” he said.
LaNyalla expressed his gratitude to the East Java Provincial Government, especially in the era of the leadership of Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa and Deputy Governor Emil Dardak, as well as the leadership of the East Java Provincial DPRD, who had approved and completed the process of land grants and assistance from the East Java Provincial Government for the construction of the DPD RI Regional Office in the Capital of East Java Province.
“I also thank the Acting Governor of East Java Mr. Adhy Karyono, who continued the process,” he said.
In her speech, East Java Governor for the 2019–2024 period Khofifah Indar Parawansa, hoped that the presence of the Regional Office of DPD RI in East Java would provide participatory space from the community and the regions represented by DPD RI members.
“We are proud that the Chairman of DPD RI comes from East Java. Of course this is a great strength for East Java. That’s why we support that the existence of regional offices will make it easier to capture aspirations and escort them to be realized by the central government,” she said.
The existence of the DPD RI Office in East Java, Khofifah continued, is also expected to further strengthen East Java which is the center of gravity of Indonesia.
“When IKN Nusantara runs, the national capital as de jure is there. But as de facto, the national capital is in East Java,” she said.
DPD RI Secretary General Rahman Hadi explained that the land grant process for the DPD RI Regional Office in East Java began when the Chairman of DPD RI verbally conveyed to Khofifah during a visit to the East Java Governor’s Office on 1 November 2019.
After that, DPD RI followed up by sending an official letter. 15 months later, on February 24, 2021, the land grant was realized with an area of 2,000 square meters.
“Since the moratorium on the construction of state ministry buildings or institutions by the Minister of Finance has not been lifted, the Chairman of DPD RI asked Mrs. Khofifah at that time was to be given construction assistance through the mechanism of the Regional Grant Agreement in the form of money with a total of Rp16,277,000,000,” he said.
On the 2,000 meters of land, according to him, there will be a 2.5-storey office building with a total floor area of 1,714.6 square meters.
There will be 6 rooms for DPD RI Members, 1 room for Expert Staff of DPD RI Members, 1 head office, 2 secretariat rooms, 1 multipurpose room, 1 meeting room, 1 prayer room, and several other supporting rooms inside.
“The construction process is planned to be completed within 6 months starting from 18 April 2024 to 19 September 2024,” said Rahman Hadi.
Present at the groundbreaking ceremony as well as giving donations to orphans were Vice Chairman I DPD RI Nono Sampono, DPD RI members of East Java electoral district Evi Zainal Abidin and Adilla Aziz, Habib Ali Alwi (Banten), Andi Muh Ihsan and Tamsil Linrung (South Sulawesi), Elviana (Jambi), Amang Syafruddin (West Java), Alirman Sori (West Sumatera), M Afnan Hadikusumo (DIY), Amirul Tamim (Southeast Sulawesi), Andri Prayoga Putra Singkarru (West Sulawesi), Sudirman and Fahrul Razi (Aceh), Governor and Deputy Governor of East Java for the 2019–2024 period Khofifah Indar Parawansa-Emil Dardak, Secretary General of DPD RI and his staff, Eddy Supriyanto, Head of Bakesbangpol of East Java Province representing the Acting Governor of East Java, elements of the East Java Forkopimda, Chairman of the East Java Kadin Adik Dwi Putranto, Chairman of the East Java KONI M Nabil, Chairman of the Surabaya Kadin M Ali Affandi, Senators elected in the 2024 Election Lia Istifhama and Kondang Kusumaning Ayu (East Java), Rudi Tirtayana (South Papua), community leaders, and other invited guests.
