Indonesia Ready to Hold 19th PUIC Conference: Strengthening the Strategic Role of Islamic Parliament in Responding to Global Challenges
By: Syarif Hidayatullah *)
Indonesia is preparing to host the 19th Conference of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States (PUIC) which will be held on 12-15 May 2025 at the Parliament Complex, Jakarta. Organized by the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia (DPR RI), this conference is a strategic momentum to reaffirm Indonesia’s active role in strengthening inter-parliamentary diplomacy of Muslim countries.
The appointment of Indonesia as host and also President of the 19th PUIC was decided at the 18th PUIC Conference which took place in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, in March 2024. This is not the first time Indonesia has been trusted to lead the PUIC forum. Previously, Indonesia also hosted the 7th PUIC Conference in Palembang in 2012. This experience is a valuable asset in making this forum a success.
Carrying the theme “PUIC Silver Jubilee – Good Governance and Strong Institutions as Pillars of Resilience”, this conference also marks the 25th anniversary of the founding of PUIC which was first established in Tehran, Iran in 1999. This theme reflects the shared aspirations of OIC member countries to strengthen good governance and strong institutions as the main foundation of national and regional resilience.
The holding of the 19th PUIC Conference has an important meaning, not only as a celebration of a quarter of a century of PUIC’s existence, but also as a space for reflection and formulation of future steps in facing increasingly complex global challenges. Major issues such as climate change, global economic instability, humanitarian crises, health security, and the crisis of public trust in the state will be the topics discussed in this conference.
The Indonesian House of Representatives through the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Agency (BKSAP) has prepared a number of strategic agendas that will be brought up in this forum. Member of the Indonesian House of Representatives’ BKSAP, Eva Monalisa, said that one of the main issues that Indonesia will raise is strengthening the collective support of PUIC member countries for Palestinian independence. This statement was delivered after her meeting with the Palestinian Government delegation at the Parliament Complex, Jakarta.
Indonesia’s strong commitment to the Palestinian issue was also emphasized by the Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, in her meeting with the Speaker of the Palestinian Parliament, Rawhi Fattouh, at the Group of Parliaments in Support of Palestine forum held in Istanbul, Turkey, in April 2025. In the meeting, Puan emphasized that support for Palestine is a moral and historical calling of the Indonesian nation. In addition, she also directly invited the Speaker of the Palestinian Parliament to attend the 19th PUIC Conference in Jakarta.
For information, when Palestine declared its independence in Algeria on November 15, 1988, Indonesia under the leadership of President Soeharto immediately took a firm stance. During Soeharto’s reign, Indonesia was recorded as one of the first countries to officially recognize the proclamation of Palestinian independence.
During the administration of President Joko Widodo, Indonesia also consistently sent humanitarian aid and strengthened diplomacy in the United Nations (UN) and Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) forums.
During a working visit to Turkey, President Prabowo Subianto emphasized Indonesia’s commitment to support Palestinian independence, and said that Indonesia and Turkey must lead the world towards a new, fairer order, especially in voicing justice for the Palestinian people.
This diplomatic step reflects Indonesia’s strong commitment to supporting the Palestinian people’s struggle to gain sovereignty as an independent country. Indonesia’s decision to be a pioneer in recognizing Palestinian independence shows the country’s consistent position in international relations, especially regarding humanitarian issues and the independence of nations in the world.
The forum produced a joint declaration calling on PUIC member countries to use their political influence to protect the basic rights of the Palestinian people and strengthen Palestine’s position in the international system, including full membership in the UN. In addition to Indonesia and Palestine, the forum was also attended by the parliamentary chairmen of Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Malaysia, Pakistan, Jordan, Senegal, and parliamentary representatives from Algeria, Egypt, and Azerbaijan, showing the great support for this issue.
As a parliamentary organization that now has 54 parliaments and 25 observer organizations from all over the Islamic world, PUIC is a strategic forum in building inter-parliamentary cooperation, strengthening the solidarity of the people, and formulating a collective response to global dynamics. In this context, Indonesia not only plays a role as a host, but also as the main driver of various construction initiatives.f, including the agenda of empowering women, protecting the rights of Muslim minorities, and promoting world peace.
The 19th PUIC Conference in Jakarta will last for four days and will include various important agendas such as plenary sessions, standing committee meetings, parliamentary women’s forums, and cross-issue thematic dialogues. Some of the topics to be discussed include legislative innovation, digital governance, inclusive political participation, and increasing the capacity of parliamentary institutions in responding to the challenges of the times.
To realize the success of this event, the Secretariat General of the Indonesian House of Representatives is also intensively coordinating with a number of agencies such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemenlu), Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub), Immigration, State Intelligence Agency (BIN), Polda Metro Jaya, and the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government as well. All of these efforts are made to ensure the smooth running and security of the event.
Some of the things that were noted include requests for securing the VVIP convoy route, welcoming delegates at the airport, and the readiness of the state dinner on May 11 and lunch with the Governor of DKI Jakarta.
“Synergy between agencies is very important so that the entire series of activities run smoothly and reflect Indonesia’s good image in the eyes of the international world,” concluded Secretary General of the Indonesian House of Representatives Indra Iskandar.
In terms of implementation, the Indonesian House of Representatives has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Secretariat General of PUIC in February 2025 as an initial step in technical and logistical preparation. This conference is designed with a budget efficiency approach, but still prioritizes quality and professionalism, in accordance with government direction. Although security details have not been announced to the public, Indonesia has a solid track record in ensuring the smooth running of international events.
This conference is also a space to expand cross-regional cooperation by strengthening South-South solidarity. Indonesia hopes that through this forum, the parliaments of Muslim countries can strengthen their position in the international system and influence the global agenda towards a more just and peaceful world.
With thorough preparation, cross-sector support, and a commitment to inclusive and transformative parliamentary diplomacy, Indonesia is ready to make the 19th PUIC Conference in Jakarta a historic forum that will have a real impact on the future of the people.
*) Islamic Scholar/ Islamic Studies Researcher
