Bill on legislative composition shows more reform flaws<\/p>\n
Berni K. Moestafa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The bill on the composition of the legislative bodies, a follow-
\non from last year's amendments to the 1945 Constitution,
\ndemonstrates the weaknesses that critics warned would result from
\nwhat they said were half-hearted constitutional changes.<\/p>\n
Although hailed as a milestone in the much-vaunted, four-year
\nold reform effort, the passage of the amendments was tainted by
\nsuspicions that the country's political elite were reluctant to
\nshare power.<\/p>\n
Tuesday's passage of the elections bill confirmed at least one
\nof those fears. The elections law imposes a two percent electoral
\nthreshold, thus giving the larger parties a head start in the
\nelection.<\/p>\n
Another follow-up on the amendment, the direct presidential
\nelections bill, could limit the list of candidates to just five
\n-- one from each of the five biggest political parties.<\/p>\n
Now, the bill on the composition of the legislative organs:
\nthe House of Representatives (DPR), the People's Consultative
\nAssembly (MPR), and the Regional Representatives Council (DPD)
\nreiterates the superiority of indirectly-elected members of
\npolitical parties over directly-elected local representatives.<\/p>\n
These three legislative institutions form the foundations for
\nnext year's general election in line with the constitutional
\namendments.<\/p>\n
"We can't provide additional bodies other than those
\ndesignated by the Constitution," said Golkar faction legislator
\nMuhammad Yahya Zaini on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Yahya was referring to the regional representatives who will
\nhave much less authority than their counterparts in the MPR. The
\nassembly is the country's highest law-making body.<\/p>\n
Under the recent amendments, the MPR will be converted into a
\nbicameral legislature consisting of the DPR and DPD. The DPD is
\ncomparable to the U.S. Senate but only in so far as both
\nrepresent regions.<\/p>\n
In the MPR, the DPD and DPR members will be equal as regards
\npowers but not numbers. According to the new elections bill, each
\nprovince shall have four representatives regardless of population
\nsize. With 30 provinces so far, the number of DPD members will
\namount to 120 as against 550 in the DPR.<\/p>\n
Outside the context of the MPR, DPD members have fewer
\nfunctions given to them by the amended Constitution.<\/p>\n
And as legislator Yahya said, there is not enough leeway to
\nincrease the DPD's role through the legislative composition bill.<\/p>\n
The bills' articles 39 and 40 outlining the DPD's role are
\nalmost exact copies of article 22C and 22D of the Constitution.<\/p>\n
The Constitution limits the DPD's role to discussing bills
\nthat only concern local government affairs. Such bills may be
\nrelated to local autonomy, the creation of new provinces, and
\nrevenue-sharing between the central and local governments.<\/p>\n
Other countries' bicameral systems also had chambers with
\nunequal powers, said Brawijaya University constitutional law
\nexpert Mukti Fajar.<\/p>\n
But unlike in Indonesia, he said, directly-elected
\nrepresentatives had more power than indirectly-elected ones.<\/p>\n
He explained that directly-elected representatives were more
\naccountable compared to those who were appointed.<\/p>\n
"In Indonesia it's a bit strange because it's more difficult
\nto become a DPD member than a legislator, and yet the latter has
\nmore power," he said.<\/p>\n
Analysts often link the poor performance of legislators with a
\nlack of accountability because their parties appoint them instead
\nof the people.<\/p>\n
Legislators have set up a special committee to start debating
\nthe bill on the composition of the legislative bodies.<\/p>\n
The committee is awaiting the appointment of a chairman and
\nmust first decide on mechanisms and a schedule before it can
\nstart its work.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bill-on-legislative-composition-shows-more-reform-flaws-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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