The House of Representatives has approved the National Legislation Program (Prolegnas) for 2025, during which the lawmakers will deliberate 41 priority bills. The list clearly represents a compromise between the political elites, rather than public aspirations, such as the mounting demand for an asset-forfeiture law.

Of the 41 bills considered priority, 16 are sponsored by commissions across the House, 16 by the House's Legislation Body (Baleg), nine by the government and one by the Regional Representative Council (DPD). 

Some of those bills, such as those concerning tourism, renewable energy and domestic worker protections, are carried over from the legislative agenda of the House's 2019-2024 term.

There are also several bills which are closely in line with President Prabowo Subianto's signature programs like food security and the downstreaming of minerals, along with other industrial sector objectives, such as the food bill, the farmer protections and empowerment bill and industry bill.

The House has also included a revision of the Indonesian Military (TNI) Law in the Prolegnas, after the Constitutional Court (MK) turned down last year a judicial review motion filed against the law, which would have extended the retirement age of military soldiers to 58 years old.

Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said he would continue his predecessor Prabowo's bid to revise the TNI Law, which is focused on the matters of retirement age and bureaucratic posts that active military officers can fill. The current TNI Law limits the civilian posts for TNI personnel to 10 ministries/agencies, while now there are more civilian jobs that require specific military expertise, such as deputy attorney general for military crimes.

Sjafrie said the revision would seek to reinforce the national defense strategy, and accelerate bureaucratic reforms in the military, which Prabowo had begun while serving as defense minister from 2019-2024.

The Prabowo government's legislation agenda will likely be spearheaded by deputy House speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, who is also the executive chairman of Prabowo's Gerindra Party.

The government may also propose more bills to accommodate Prabowo's bloated cabinet, which consists of 49 ministries and offices of coordinating ministers and six new government agencies.

The public, in fact, is eager to see the asset-forfeiture bill deliberated by lawmakers in the wake of rampant corruption, bribery and money laundering cases, as well as online gambling. Moreover, this bill is also viewed as an effective mechanism to seize ill-gotten assets that can go to the state coffers.

Law Minister Supratman Andi Atgas, who is also a Gerindra Party politician, has promised to seek political party leaders' support for the draft law, so as to push for deliberation of the much-awaited bill. Nevertheless, the House seems unprepared to debate the bill as it has been grappling with the tax amnesty bill, which made it to the Prolegnas at the last minute.

On the other hand, Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) lawmaker Aria Bima has suggested that Prabowo issue a government regulation in lieu of a law on asset-forfeiture if it deems such legislation is urgently needed.¹ The deliberation of the bill has been stalled for years, thanks in part to the PDI-P's objection.

Several House lawmakers familiar with the formulation of the bill said the absence of approval from political party leaders of the draft had hindered its deliberation at the House. According to them, the party leaders must consult on the draft, due to the sensitivity of the legislation.

They said former president Joko "Jokowi" Widodo had submitted a presidential letter to the House leaders in 2023 to mark the start of the deliberation of the bill. The House held at least six hearings related to the bill, but failed to reach a consensus.

"There was no agreement among the political parties in the House, because their bosses were never consulted," said a politician. "Approaching the party leaders is therefore imperative," the source said.