Do legislators need crash course?<\/p>\n
By Cornelis Lay<\/p>\n
YOGYAKARTA (JP): Prospective members of the House of
\nRepresentatives, elected earlier this year, are enjoying special
\nattention.<\/p>\n
With the present cabinet nearing the end of its term, a
\nministry for special assignments has been set up in an
\nunprecedented move to \"empower\" the new legislators.<\/p>\n
Initially the ministry was not created to empower the house
\nbut it evolved and its brief now includes holding an \"informal
\ndiscussion\" to give a \"more profound understanding\" of the
\nlegislators' tasks.<\/p>\n
At the local level, members of regional legislative assemblies
\n(DPRD I and II) have become involved in the same undertaking
\nsince 1994, following the 1992 general election.<\/p>\n
The education and training agency of the Ministry of Home
\nAffairs has been coordinating attempts to give House members a
\nthorough understanding of their role.<\/p>\n
These activities have been carried out across the country and
\nthe materials are substantial in nature. Regional assemblies have
\nevaluated these activities and the outcome was positive.<\/p>\n
Indeed the activities, which are devoid of ceremony, are a
\nserious undertaking and utilize experts from respected
\nuniversities throughout the country.<\/p>\n
A similar endeavor for members of regional assemblies is set
\nto begin in September but preparations began a long time. In
\nJuly, more than 60 experts from various disciplines spent two
\nnights in Puncak, West Java, collecting the necessary materials
\nand syllabus.<\/p>\n
Hence, in terms of substance, what is happening is not new
\nexcept for the involvement of the House. As a result, the
\ninformal discussion or crash course for members of the House does
\ncarry some political weight. Moreover the course was opened by
\nthe President himself and top political figures are presiding
\nover proceedings.<\/p>\n
However limited the course, it will have a positive impact on
\nthe performance of the House. The interaction between House
\nmembers and experts, in the process of acquainting themselves
\nwith various aspects of social life, will give the legislators a
\nmore profound and broader understanding of their task which
\nbegins in October.<\/p>\n
The present House has better qualifications, in terms of the
\neducational background and the experience of its members.
\nHowever, the political turmoil that has hit the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party (PDI) has resulted in the emergence of a number
\nof House members who, psychologically and technically, may not
\nhave been prepared to serve as people's representatives.
\nTherefore, it may be theorized that significant gaps will exist
\nbetween members of the House. The informal discussion will be
\nable to help bridge these gaps, that is, if it is conducted in
\nearnest.<\/p>\n
The crash course will be useful for House members who have an
\nadequate educational background and experience. Understanding
\nmust be shared by House members in view of, among others, a
\nchange in their function, role and the difference between the
\nworking character of the House and the experience and education
\nof previous House members.<\/p>\n
For experts and those from university circles, interaction
\nwith the House provides not only a chance to communicate their
\n\"dreams\" but also an ample opportunity to learn. In this way, the
\nintellectuals may come up with more reasonable suggestions which
\nare in tune with the problems the House faces.<\/p>\n
There are many other benefits which may be derived from a
\ncrash course among House members. There is, however, one issue
\nwhich may result in the course being devoid of substantial
\nmeaning.<\/p>\n
The course is held with an assumption that the substance of
\nall problems, which have prevented our House from performing its
\nfunctions adequately, lies within the House itself. It is even
\nassumed that the substance of the problems rests on the shoulders
\nof each House member individually.<\/p>\n
Therefore, it is also assumed that the course will be a
\nprescription with great efficacy and it will eliminate individual
\nsources of failure from the House. We are all aware, however,
\nthat this assumption is far from reality. Facts show that most of
\nthe problems facing the House are structural in nature and lie
\noutside the realm of the House itself.<\/p>\n
Thus, we must realize that the course is part of an effort to
\nremove the hurdles which stand in the way of the House. This
\nactivity will be useful to solve problems which are individual in
\ncharacter and lie within the House itself. The solution to most
\nother problems, meanwhile, must be found in other areas which are
\nstructural in character and lie outside the House.<\/p>\n
In other words, efforts to empower the House will only work if
\nimprovement in the quality of House members, as individuals, is
\ncoupled with changes in principle, which are structural in
\ncharacter, in the political area.<\/p>\n
Without this awareness, the course will result in the
\nemergence of House members as individuals with higher
\nqualifications and expectations but in tight, structural
\nshackles.<\/p>\n
In this situation, empowerment may have two possible results.
\nFirst, House members will become more apathetic, lowering the
\nquality of the House's performance. Second, House members will
\nbreed covert radicalism which can easily give birth to serious
\nproblems.<\/p>\n
The writer is a lecturer in political science at Gadjah Mada
\nUniversity, Yogyakarta.<\/p>",
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