RI–Bahrain Agree to Strengthen Parliamentary Cooperation, Discuss Policy Studies and Digitalization at PUIC 2025
Jakarta – The first day of the 19th Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States (PUIC) Conference at the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) in Jakarta on Monday (May 12, 2025) was marked by several bilateral meetings between delegations.
One key meeting took place between the Secretary General of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Indra Iskandar, and the Secretary General of the Bahrain Parliament, Mohamed Ibrahim Al Sisi Al Buainain.
During the meeting, Bahrain expressed its desire to strengthen institutional relations with the Indonesian Parliament on an ongoing basis.
“They expressed their wish for the relationship between the Indonesian and Bahrain Parliaments to be further facilitated, both through direct meetings and digital communication. This is a positive opportunity that we will follow up on,” said Indra at the Parliament Complex, Senayan.
Indra explained that the cooperation being explored covers various aspects, from policy study exchanges to enhancing institutional capacities. One area of focus is the issue of mothers and children, where Bahrain has conducted in-depth studies that could be collaborated on with the Indonesian House of Representatives’ Expertise Agency.
“This presents a very important potential for collaborative studies, especially in developing data-driven policies and cross-country experiences,” he said.
Both parties also emphasized the importance of digitalizing communication between institutions and strengthening capacity-building programs for parliament members and staff.
Although the Bahrain Parliament is bicameral and has a relatively small number of members, Indra noted that this structure actually facilitates consolidation and decision-making efficiency.
The Indonesian Parliament, through the Indonesia–Bahrain Bilateral Cooperation Working Group (GKSB), will follow up on the technical discussions soon.
“We hope this collaboration can be quickly followed up with tangible programs,” concluded Indra.
Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Body (BKSAP) of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Mardani Ali Sera, emphasized that the 19th PUIC Conference is a crucial moment to strengthen the solidarity of parliaments in Islamic countries through concrete cooperation.
“The main focus of this PUIC forum is to promote peace and harmony among OIC member countries, while strengthening cooperation in the fields of economics, social issues, and culture,” said Mardani.
Mardani noted that several strategic issues were also discussed, including sustainable development and the participation of women and youth in politics.
“The DPR will also bring up issues of women and youth participation, as well as sustainable development and environmental concerns among OIC member countries,” he added.
