Deliberation of bills at hotels under fire<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The deliberation of bills at hotels came under
\nfire yesterday, with two House of Representatives legislators
\ndemanding an end to such practices.<\/p>\n
Oka Mahendra of the Golkar faction and Hamzah Haz of the
\nUnited Development Party (PPP) expressed worries that the House's
\nreputation might be weakened if it continued to accept the
\ngovernment's invitation to deliberate at plush hotels.<\/p>\n
\"We must stop this practice to avoid public impressions that
\nthe House falls prey to the government's influence and loses its
\nindependence,\" Oka said.<\/p>\n
Hamzah said deliberations at hotels exposed the House's lack
\nof financial autonomy.<\/p>\n
\"The House falls short of funds to provide not only facilities
\nneeded for nonstop deliberation with the government, but also for
\nsupporting elements such as expert staff,\" he said.<\/p>\n
A meeting between House Commission II for home affairs and top
\nofficials of the Ministry of Home Affairs at the five-star Grand
\nMelia Hotel in the Kuningan business area, South Jakarta,
\nyesterday triggered fresh controversy on the practice.<\/p>\n
The meeting was held to discuss a bill that would give
\nmayoralty status to Tarakan township in East Kalimantan. The bill
\nwas submitted to the House last Monday and is scheduled to be
\napproved on Tuesday next week.<\/p>\n
Deliberating bills at hotels has become a trend over the past
\nfive years. It is usually done during the final phase of a bill
\nwhen House legislators are about to finish deliberations. The
\ngovernment pays for accommodation expenses.<\/p>\n
Two controversial bills were also recently deliberated in
\nrather plush surroundings recently.<\/p>\n
A House special committee deliberating the newly approved
\nmanpower bill attended a one-week, closed and informal meeting
\nwith the government at the Horison Hotel in Ancol, North Jakarta,
\nin June despite the fact that the House was in recess.<\/p>\n
House legislators deliberating amendments to the broadcasting
\nbill also spent a few days at the Kartika Chandra Hotel before
\nagreeing to the final draft of the bill on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Despite criticism, House internal rules do allow for
\ndeliberations to take place outside the House building with the
\nconsent of the House speaker.<\/p>\n
Hamzah, also chairman of PPP faction at the House, said the
\nreason why such deliberations were allowed to take place was
\nbecause of efficiency.<\/p>\n
\"Staying at a hotel makes legislators feel comfortable
\nworking. We cannot delay the passage of bills,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Both Oka and Hamzah both said that the next House should be
\nappropriated more funds from the state budget to provide
\nfacilities needed for intensive bill deliberation.<\/p>\n
Hamzah said it would save time and money if the government
\nplanned a better legislation program. \"The House would avoid
\nrushed and last minute bills,\" he said.<\/p>\n
By the end of its five-year term on Sept. 30, the current
\nHouse will have passed 73 bills, with one-third of them
\ndeliberated in the past 12 months. (amd)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/deliberation-of-bills-at-hotels-under-fire-1447893297",
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