REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- A member of the National Democratic Party (Nasdem) has encouraged President-elect Joko Widodo (Jokowi), asking him not to worry about possible disruptions from the House of Representatives (DPR).

"Jokowi should not worry. Even though the DPR leadership is controlled by the Red-White coalition, it does not mean they can easily sabotage the government," Nasdem party member Ali Mazi said here on Saturday.

The former governor of Southeast Sulawesi was certain that DPR members would make an effort to hinder the government.

"But if we think rationally and positively, we will know that the legislative and executive bodies have different functions. While the government runs the administration, the DPR will supervise and endorse bills," he added.

The Red-White coalition, which supported the Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa duo in the presidential election on July 9, had successfully secured DPR leadership by filling all leadership positions in a plenary meeting recently.

Moreover, the Great Indonesia coalition, which supported the Joko Widodo-Jusuf Kalla duo in the presidential election, walked out of the vote. This coalition comprises the Indonesia Democratic Party Struggle (PDIP), Nasdem, the Nation Awakening Party (PKB) and the People's Conscience Party (Hanura).

Mazi further noted that if the DPR rejected the budget submitted by the government, Jokowi could still implement the budget of the previous year.

"By keeping public interest in mind, I am optimistic that the government and the DPR can cooperate under the Jokowi administration," he stated.

Mazi, who was also the former chairman of the Sulawesi Regional Development Coordinating Agency covering six provinces in the 2006-2008 period, hoped that the Red-White coalition (KMP) voices the interests of the people.

"They must speak for the people, while in fact they speak their own interests," he added.

The chairman of the Southeast Sulawesi regional chapter of Nasdem, Mazi pointed out that people would certainly not stay silent if the legislature rejected a pro-people program of the government.

"We must be grateful that we have been able to find a leader who is humble, cares about people and is committed to his mandate," he remarked.

In a plenary meeting on Friday (October 3), the DPR appointed Setya Novanto from the Golkar Party as the speaker of the DPR.

It also appointed Fadli Zon from Gerindra, Agus Hermanto from the Democratic Party, Taufik Kurnia from PAN and Fahri Hamzah from PKS as deputy speakers.

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