Regional Indonesian legislatures push for increased public participation

The West Java Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) Secretariat is preparing new programs to increase community involvement in expressing aspirations. Key initiatives include the ‘Sapa Disabilitas’ program, aimed at facilitating direct communication between the DPRD and people with disabilities, and the strengthening of women's issues within the 2026/2027 Work Plan. The ‘Sapa Disabilitas’ program intends to reach approximately 12,000 individuals by visiting various regions to better understand their specific needs and challenges.

In Central Java, Vice Chairman of the DPRD Sarif Abdillah has called for meaningful public participation regarding the Giant Sea Wall (GSW) project on the northern coast of Java. While acknowledging the project's potential to mitigate tidal flooding, Abdillah emphasized that environmental impact assessments (Amdal) must strictly follow legal regulations and avoid being purely ‘project minded’. This follows concerns from the Maleh Dadi Segoro Coalition, which highlighted a lack of meaningful community participation in the planning stages of the project segment covering Kendal, Semarang, and Demak.