1 week Ago By Yerica Lai
resident ’s nod to the idea of abolishing direct regional head elections to cut costs has been met with strong criticism from pro-democracy advocates, who warn that imposing indirect polls would turn the country into a semi-authoritarian state. Prabowo made the suggestion less than a month after the country held nationwide simultaneous regional head elections, which saw candidates backed by his Onward Indonesia Coalition (KIM) scoring victories in key battleground provinces amid historic low voter turnout. Addressing the Golkar Party’s 60th anniversary event on Thursday evening, the President proposed that local leaders be appointed by members of local legislatures as a cost-saving measure.
“How many tens of trillions were spent from the state budget and the pockets of politicians in one or two days?” Prabowo asked during his speech. “Our neighbors like Malaysia, Singapore and India have an efficient system. They elect local councilors who then appoint governors and regents.
It’s cost-free and very efficient.” Delivered straight to your inbox three times weekly, this curated briefing provides a concise overview of the day's most important issues, covering a wide range of topics from politics to culture and society. By registering, you agree with 's Please check your email for your newsletter subscription.
Funds allocated for the regional head elections should be spent on pressing needs that would better serve the public welfare, the President added, such as meals for children, school renovations and building irrigation systems..
