By: Aditya Akbar )*
The House of Representatives (DPR) and the government have finally demonstrated full seriousness in responding to the aspirations of the people embodied in the 17+8 public demands. One clear proof lies in the concrete step of making the Asset Forfeiture Bill (RUU Perampasan Aset) a main agenda item in the National Legislation Program (Prolegnas), now even taken over as a DPR initiative.
This step is not merely a formality but a genuine representation that public aspirations are truly being heard. For years, the people have demanded a regulation that can strengthen the fight against corruption and money laundering.
With the Asset Forfeiture Bill now officially included as a legislative priority, the public can finally see that both the government and Parliament are not turning a deaf ear, but rather moving swiftly to follow up on urgent national needs.
Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, emphasized that the shift in initiative from the government to Parliament reflects a healthy dynamic in Indonesia’s legal politics.
President Prabowo Subianto has repeatedly urged DPR to accelerate deliberations, underlining the urgency of the bill as one of the main pillars in strengthening Indonesia’s anti-corruption instruments.
Yusril further explained that the government has placed the bill on the 2025–2026 Prolegnas priority list through coordination with Minister of Law Supratman Andi Agtas. According to Yusril, the government is ready to proceed as soon as DPR submits the draft for joint deliberation.
DPR’s role as the initiating body also demonstrates that the legislature is not passive. Deputy Chair of DPR’s Legislative Body (Baleg), Ahmad Doli Kurnia, outlined that revising Prolegnas to include the Asset Forfeiture Bill is very possible.
He stressed that Baleg is prepared to carry out the legislative process, from drafting the academic text to the bill itself, as long as an agreement is reached with the government. According to him, a bill originating from DPR can move faster because only one list of issues (DIM) from the government needs to be reviewed.
Doli also added that DPR’s formal mechanisms make it possible to finalize the bill more efficiently, further showing Parliament’s readiness to follow through on public demands for a strong regulation on asset recovery from criminal acts. His statement signals clearly that DPR is not only accommodating public demands but also has a concrete roadmap to realize them.
In line with this, Minister of Law Supratman Andi Agtas reaffirmed that the government places asset forfeiture as a top priority. He explained that President Prabowo has repeatedly stressed the importance of ensuring the bill is included in Prolegnas so it will not be delayed again as in previous periods.
Looking back, the Asset Forfeiture Bill was actually first proposed in 2023 during the administration of Indonesia’s seventh president, Joko Widodo, but it was never deliberated. This long uncertainty had sparked public doubts about the state’s seriousness in strengthening anti-corruption efforts. Now, with the bill prioritized and taken over by DPR, those doubts are gradually being addressed.
The concrete actions of the government and DPR show a shift in attitude: public aspirations are now being placed at the core of policy direction. In the context of the 17+8 public demands, this step is both symbolic and substantive.
Symbolic because it shows that people’s voices are not being ignored; substantive because it concerns a crucial legal instrument for reclaiming criminal assets for the benefit of the state and the people.
The Asset Forfeiture Bill also reflects a new awareness among the political elite about the importance of transparency and accountability. Amid economic challenges, such regulation will strengthen the state’s legitimacy in protecting national wealth while reducing potential losses from corruption.
It is also important to highlight that government–Parliament synergy in this bill could set a positive precedent for deliberating other strategic regulations. The public has reason to hope that such mechanisms can be applied to other critical issues so that popular aspirations are transformed not just into demonstrations, but into actual policy.
The seriousness of DPR and the government in responding to the 17+8 demands through taking over the Asset Forfeiture Bill initiative marks an important milestone in Indonesia’s democratic journey. Public aspirations are no longer treated merely as pressure but as energy driving progressive policies.
If the legislative process proceeds as committed, the public will not only witness the birth of a new regulation but also a stronger trust between the people and the state.
Thus, DPR’s takeover of the Asset Forfeiture Bill, supported fully by President Prabowo Subianto and the government, is not just a legal agenda. More than that, it is a tangible response to the people’s aspirations, a reflection of the state’s commitment to transparency, and an essential foundation for strengthening democracy and combating corruption in Indonesia.
*) The author is a contributor at the Pertiwi Institute
