Challenges facing the MPR<\/p>\n
In just little more than a month Indonesia's highest lawmaking
\ninstitution, the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), will begin
\nits 10-day general assembly to deliberate topics and policies
\nthat may have the most far-reaching consequences for this
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
Under the 1945 Constitution, the MPR is the highest body
\nrepresenting the people's sovereignty. Hence, the edicts and
\npolicy outlines that it produces will provide the basis for every
\nother law and regulation in this country. Most important, it is
\nup to the MPR to elect a president and vice president to lead and
\nadminister the country for the next five years.<\/p>\n
As reports have indicated, it appears that at this stage most
\nof the crucial problems lying in the way of a smooth process have
\nalready been worked out. A draft for the basic outlines of state
\npolicy for the newly elected president to carry out has been
\nformulated. Presumably, any major problems concerning the
\ninclusion of some novel subjects, such as human rights, have also
\nbeen cleared.<\/p>\n
As for the chair of the presidency itself, there is no longer
\nany doubt at this stage that incumbent President Soeharto will be
\nreelected. The only question remaining is who will assist him as
\nvice president -- a question that under normal circumstances is
\nof minimal interest because the vice president has always served
\nmerely to assist the president.<\/p>\n
It appears, then, that the upcoming general assembly of the
\nMPR will proceed not much different from what we have been
\naccustomed to in the past three decades. No major divergences are
\nexpected, especially since the 1,000-seat assembly is still
\nheavily dominated -- or even a little more so -- by the same
\nfactions who have formed the body's absolute majority ever since
\nthe present New Order administration was born in the late 1960s.<\/p>\n
This being the case, it is not surprising that many observers
\nexpect this year's general session of the MPR to be business as
\nusual, in the sense that few changes or novel policy directives
\nare to be expected. Perhaps the reason is that in the run-up to
\nthe general session -- from last year's general election up until
\nrecently -- occurred under circumstances that were totally
\ndifferent from those existing at present.<\/p>\n
Which, given the present drastically changed conditions,
\nraises the question of whether the MPR in its present
\nconstellation will be able to come up with products that can
\naccommodate the demands of the times. No one, after all, will
\ndeny that, even at this stage, the monetary and economic crisis
\nhas gone well beyond the boundaries of monetary and economic
\npolicies.<\/p>\n
Drastic policy decisions have already been taken by the
\ngovernment that, in the view of many observers, are quite
\nrevolutionary in character. Among other things, monopolies are
\nbeing dismantled, subsidies and public funding for special
\nprojects have been withdrawn, and the central bank, Bank
\nIndonesia, has been given the autonomy to make its own monetary
\npolicy decisions. All of these measures have been taken with the
\naim of improving the efficiency of our national economy.<\/p>\n
But now that the basic policy decisions have been made, it is
\nup to the state apparatus in the lower echelons to see to it that
\nthe decisions are duly implemented. Whether they are up to the
\ntask is a question that is well worth asking.<\/p>\n
For one thing, an effective control mechanism -- generally
\nlacking so far -- will be needed to ensure that deviations and
\nirregularities can be prevented. An impartial and effective
\njudiciary is needed to make sure that rights are protected and
\noffenders are penalized.<\/p>\n
In short, laudable as the measures may be, much still remains
\nto be done to support them. It is to be hoped that the factions
\nrepresented in the MPR will have the wisdom to take the decisions
\nthat are necessary to face the unfamiliar challenges of the new
\nmillennium.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/challenges-facing-the-mpr-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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