DPD wants delay in law revision<\/p>\n
A. Junaidi, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Newly elected members of the Regional Representatives Council
\n(DPD) demanded on Tuesday that the revision of Law No. 22\/1999
\non regional autonomy be delayed until they were sworn into
\noffice.<\/p>\n
\"We demand the government and the House of Representatives to
\npostpone the revision of the law until the DPD and new members of
\nthe House are inaugurated,\" DPD member La Ode Ida of South
\nSulawesi told reporters on Tuesday after a meeting with the
\nHouse.<\/p>\n
The members-elect of the House and regional council are to be
\nsworn into office in September.<\/p>\n
According to the revised 1945 Constitution, any revisions of
\nlaws concerning regional governments should involve DPD members.<\/p>\n
The council members also demanded on Tuesday that an amendment
\nto Law No. 25\/1999 on fiscal balance between the central and
\nregional governments be postponed as well.<\/p>\n
\"If the government and the House continue to revise the laws,
\nwe will revise them again later,\" La Ode said.<\/p>\n
Agun Gunandjar Sudarsa, deputy chairman of the House's special
\ncommittee in charge of the revisions and Golkar member, told DPD
\nmembers that the House and the government would continue with the
\nrevisions, \"especially the law on regional autonomy to allow
\ndirect elections for regional leaders,\" Agun told reporters.<\/p>\n
Currently, governors, regents and mayors are elected by local
\nlegislative members and are approved by either the president or
\nthe home minister.<\/p>\n
Agun said the revision was needed to prevent a vacuum of power
\nin regional governments, as the terms of many governors, regents
\nand mayors had ended.<\/p>\n
Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno concurred with Agun,
\nsaying the government was working with the House in reviewing the
\nlaws.<\/p>\n
\"The sooner the revision, the better,\" Hari said.<\/p>\n
The House said earlier the revision would focus on allowing
\nfor direct elections of regional leaders, in line with the spirit
\nof the direct presidential election.<\/p>\n
However, the government has asked that the revisions be more
\ncomprehensive.<\/p>\n
The laws have caused confusion about the distribution of power
\nbetween the central and regional governments, with the former
\naccusing the latter of abusing their new powers.<\/p>\n
The House has also ordered amendments to hundreds of bylaws
\nthat conflicted with national laws.<\/p>\n
The Association of Provincial Councils had earlier asked the
\ngovernment and the House to postpone the revisions, saying the
\nmove contradicted the spirit of regional autonomy.<\/p>\n
Several non-governmental organizations have also urged that
\nthe revision should involve the DPD and new House members, due to
\ntheir qualifications and knowledge in their respective areas.<\/p>\n
The government and the House have repeatedly said current laws
\nhave contributed to the disharmony between the central government
\nand regional administrations.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/dpd-wants-delay-in-law-revision-1447893297",
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