'Constitution must be made clear, consistent'<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Constitutional Commission to be set up soon by the People's
\nConsultative Assembly must focus on efforts to make the 1945
\nConstitution clear to help put the country's muddled political
\nsystem in good order, a legal expert says.<\/p>\n
Sri Soemantri, a prominent constitutional expert, said on
\nThursday that inconsistencies were rampant in the amended
\narticles because the amendment was reached through compromises
\namong political parties.<\/p>\n
\"If we want to create a good constitution, we must avoid
\nmaking a compromise,\" he told reporters after presenting his view
\non the Constitution before Assembly members here on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Soemantri was one of 62 figures undergoing an examination for
\na position on the 31-strong Constitutional Commission, which has
\nbeen tasked with assessing the amended Constitution.<\/p>\n
Compromise among political parties, he said, would only make
\nthe articles in the Constitution complicated and inconsistent
\nwith each other.<\/p>\n
Citing some articles as an example, he said there was
\nconfusion over whether to adopt a presidential system or a
\nparliamentary system.<\/p>\n
In her state address on the eve of Independence Day in August,
\nPresident Megawati Soekarnoputri defined the nation's political
\nsystem as \"gray\" or unclear.<\/p>\n
According to Soemantri, the country follows a presidential
\nsystem. However, the amended Constitution gives more power to the
\nHouse of Representatives (DPR), which is closer to a
\nparliamentary system.<\/p>\n
Prior to the amendment, the president had the prerogative to
\nappoint ambassadors or accept foreign envoys. After the
\namendment, however, the president must hear the House's views
\nbefore making a decision on the matter.<\/p>\n
Soemantri also questioned the changes in the law-making
\nprocess. Before the amendment, the power to produce laws was in
\nthe hands of the president. After the amendment, a law will
\nautomatically take effect 30 days after the House's approval.<\/p>\n
He therefore urged the Constitutional Commission to focus on
\nmaking articles in the Constitution compatible with each other.<\/p>\n
Legislator Yusuf Muhammad of the National Awakening Party
\n(PKB) acknowledged on Thursday that the final product of the
\nconstitutional amendment resulted from compromises among
\npolitical parties.<\/p>\n
He expressed concern that each time the country changed
\nleaders, the new power holder would amend the Constitution to
\nsuit his or her interests. He therefore called on the
\nConstitutional Commission to avoid making hasty amendments to the
\nthe Constitution.<\/p>\n
The Assembly is expected to select the 31 members of the
\nConstitutional Commission on Oct. 7. It will work for seven
\nmonths to assess and synchronize articles in the amended
\nConstitution.<\/p>\n
Results of the assessment will be reported to the Assembly's
\nWorking Body next year. Legislators will decide whether or not to
\napprove the final outcome.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/constitution-must-be-made-clear-consistent-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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