Jakarta. Ahmad Dhani and Once Mekel, former bandmates from the rock band Dewa 19 and current members of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR), have been placed in the same commission, which may reignite their ongoing feud.

Once Mekel, representing the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), stated that he has no objections to sharing a commission with Dhani, who is from the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra).

“Oh, it’s no problem. I’m still motivated,” he said, adding, “I’m waiting for instructions from the party and the faction.”

As a musician, Once emphasized his commitment to addressing copyright issues, particularly in light of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence that impact the creative industry. He also pledged to advocate for government programs that effectively target assistance, especially in health and education, while highlighting the need for job creation in the creative and cultural sectors amid economic challenges.

The tension between Dhani and Once began during preparations for the 30 Years of Dewa 19 concert, held at the Jakarta International Stadium on February 4, 2023, when disputes over royalties surfaced.

In March 2023, Dhani banned Once from performing Dewa 19 songs he had written, although he allowed Once to sing songs from his other projects, T.R.I.A.D and Ahmad Band. The two musicians met in April 2024 to discuss their conflict, after which Dhani believed their royalty issues had been resolved. However, Once confirmed he would refrain from performing Dhani’s compositions indefinitely.

Once joined Dewa 19 in 2000, taking over for Ari Lasso, but left the band in 2010 to focus on his solo career.