Agun Gunandjar Has No Objection to Temporarily Inactive ASN Lecturers Running for Legislative Office

PARLEMENTARIA, Bogor – Deputy Chair of Commission II of the Indonesian House of Representatives Agun Gunandjar Sudarsa said discussions on the Draft Law on Elections are continuing with input from various segments of society. Over the past two days, Commission II has held meaningful participation sessions with academics from several universities and civil society organizations to gather input for drafting the regulation.

“The main point is that we will continue to aim to complete the draft bill (on Elections) by the end of December. We will finish it as soon as possible,” Agun told Parlementaria after a specific working visit by Commission II of the Indonesian House of Representatives to Bogor, West Java, on Friday (13/11/2026).

He hopes the current political dynamics will not disrupt discussions or the completion of the Election Bill. He said Commission II remains committed to continuing the deliberations in line with the established target.

Responding to input from an academic at the University of Indonesia that lecturers who are state civil apparatus (ASN) and run for legislative office should only need to take temporary leave rather than resign, Agun offered a broader perspective. He said universities should instead serve as spaces for discussion and political education.

“Why can’t campuses be used as venues for public debate? Why are campuses treated as places where politics is supposedly not allowed?” said the Golkar Party faction politician.

Agun believes campus and student involvement in elections should be expanded to foster a sense of ownership and responsibility for the democratic process, supported by academic understanding and knowledge. He also said ASN employees from various agencies should be given the opportunity to run for legislative office without having to give up their employment status, provided they do not concurrently hold prohibited political state offices.

“Except for political state offices that cannot be held concurrently. But something like that (the proposal that ASN lecturers running for legislative office need only take temporary leave) has nothing to do with holding concurrent positions. I have no problem with it; I agree,” he said.

Agun also shared his views on the parliamentary threshold, which remains a subject of debate. He said that setting a threshold for the Indonesian House of Representatives needs to take into account the legislature’s representative function in speaking for people across all parts of Indonesia.

In his view, a threshold is necessary to ensure that political parties winning seats in the House have adequate representative capacity—not only concentrated in certain areas, but also able to represent people from Sabang to Merauke.

Agun proposed setting the threshold at a minimum of twice the number of House committees and other bodies. With 13 committees currently, not including the other bodies, he estimated the threshold could be around 60 seats in the House.

“The House currently has 13 committees, as well as other bodies, so the minimum should be twice that number. If it’s twice thirty, that means 60 seats, for example. If you have 60 seats, you can qualify,” he explained.

Input from various segments of society is still being gathered and will form part of Commission II’s discussions as it drafts the Election Bill, with the draft targeted for completion by the end of December. (gal/rdn)