Muhammad Khozin, a member of the National Awakening Party (PKB) faction in the House of Representatives (DPR RI), officially attained a doctoral degree in Administrative Science from the University of Jember (Unej) following a successful dissertation defense on Friday, February 13, 2026. Affectionately known as Gus Khozin, the lawmaker successfully defended his dissertation before a panel of examiners that included Vice Minister of Home Affairs Bima Arya Sugiarto. The academic milestone, held at the Unej Faculty of Law building, was supervised by promoter Prof. Abubakar Eby Hara, alongside co-promoters Prof. Bayu Dwi Anggono and Dr. Selfi Budi Helpiastuti. The presence of several prominent national figures, including DPR RI Vice Speaker Cucun Ahmad Syamsurijal, added a highly prestigious atmosphere to the academic proceedings.
In his research, Gus Khozin highlighted the fragile foundation of Regional Government-Owned Enterprises (BUMD) in Indonesia, which frequently find themselves entangled in conflicts of interest. He asserted that the primary challenge facing these enterprises extends beyond technical management issues, stemming instead from a misalignment between political ambitions, business orientations, and public service obligations. As hybrid organizations, BUMDs are compelled to bear a dual burden: pursuing financial profitability while simultaneously delivering public services. Khozin warned that without proper institutional design, this dual mandate would inevitably lead to stagnant performance.
Furthermore, the Commission II legislator criticized the current oversight framework for BUMDs, characterizing it as remarkably weak and fragmented. He noted that supervision from the central government lacks sharpness, while internal oversight bodies frequently lose their independence. This regulatory gap is further exacerbated by a failure to detect financial risks at an early stage, which routinely forces local governments to inject capital repeatedly without yielding significant returns for regional revenue or public welfare.
Khozin did not dispute that political intervention remains a chronic malady within the appointment process for directors and commissioners of these regional enterprises. Job placements driven by political compromise rather than professional merit result in unhealthy corporate governance and a lack of competitiveness. Additionally, regulatory disharmony and overlapping authority between state institutions continue to restrict BUMDs from operating professionally as independent business entities.
As a concrete solution, Khozin recommended that the government immediately draft a unified and comprehensive BUMD Law. This single regulation is expected to integrate corporate governance standards, supervisory systems, and performance evaluation mechanisms nationwide, thereby ensuring a uniform and transparent direction for all regional enterprises. Reflecting a modern touch, the doctoral promotion was also marked by an environmental initiative, as the organizing committee replaced conventional floral arrangements with tree seedlings to support the university’s green campus program.