Baramuli enters debate over necessity of DPA<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): In response to suggestions that the Supreme
\nAdvisory Board (DPA) should be dissolved, chairman A.A. Baramuli
\nsaid he would not mind if the people's representatives decided
\nthe body was no longer needed.<\/p>\n
The board had been very important as an advisor to the
\npresident, he said on Thursday. He cited as example that in 1977
\nformer president Soeharto requested the board chairman lead an
\ninvestigation into allegations of corruption at the state-run oil
\ncompany Pertamina.<\/p>\n
\"But if analysis from universities, such as that conveyed by
\nthe rector of Gadjah Mada University, says the board is no longer
\nneeded, (this must be discussed).<\/p>\n
\"Of course this needs to be settled according to the
\nConstitution and be decided through the People's Consultative
\nAssembly,\" Baramuli said, as quoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
\"And I don't mind if the board is dissolved by the peoples'
\nrepresentatives,\" he said.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday the rector of the Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada
\nUniversity, Ichlasul Amal reiterated suggestions that
\nthe board should be dispersed because it was ineffective and
\noverlapped with other state agencies.<\/p>\n
The suggestion was one of the political recommendations raised
\nlast month by the university's team of political scientists,
\nincluding Ichlasul himself.<\/p>\n
Constitutional experts Harun Al Rasid of the University of
\nIndonesia and Andi Muis of Hasanuddin University in Ujungpandang,
\nalso told The Jakarta Post on Thursday the board was no longer
\nneeded.<\/p>\n
Muis said the board had lately become a government mouthpiece,
\nciting Baramuli's defense of President B.J. Habibie's much-
\ncriticized presentation of a state award to his own wife in
\nAugust.<\/p>\n
Political scientist Arbi Sanit said the board's frequent
\nstatements had led to \"unhealthy political pressure.\"<\/p>\n
Before former president Soeharto resigned, the board \"only
\njustified anything the president wanted,\" Arbi said.<\/p>\n
He did not suggest scrapping the board altogether, but said it
\nshould be made subordinate to the president. This, he said, would
\n\"simplify the political game\".<\/p>\n
The board's latest controversial statement was made on
\nWednesday when Baramuli said \"stern action\" should be immediately
\ntaken against ringleaders or those found funding demonstrations
\nwhich could disturb the peace or disrupt the economy.<\/p>\n
Ichlasul remarked that such statements \"only hurt the people\"
\nin the midst of their new-found freedom.<\/p>\n
Baramuli said that the board existed in the first place
\n\"because of the wish of the people,\" and that the People's
\nConsultative Assembly would decide which agencies were no longer
\nneeded.<\/p>\n
A former member of the National Commission for Human Rights,
\nBaramuli described the board's importance, adding that former
\npresident Sukarno once led the board himself. Now, he said, \"in
\nmy opinion the government of President B.J. Habibie also needs
\nthe Supreme Advisory Board.\"<\/p>\n
Harun Alrasid acknowledged the board was mentioned in the 1945
\nConstitution but said it did not mean its existence was
\ncompulsory.<\/p>\n
\"Even if a state agency is in the Constitution, its formation
\ndepends on whether it is needed or not,\" Harun said, quoting the
\nlate legal professor Supomo, one of the Constitution's drafters.
\nThe Constitution states that the board functions as advisor to
\nthe president.<\/p>\n
Harun suggested that the president's advisors should not be
\ninstitutionalized, citing Habibie's advisors on economic affairs
\nFrans Seda, Widjojo Nitisastro and Ali Wardhana.<\/p>\n
He added that the position of vice president is in the 1945
\nConstitution but was unfilled at present. (01)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/baramuli-enters-debate-over-necessity-of-dpa-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}