Election results may worsen House's performance: Expert<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The national legislature will resume sitting on Monday until
\nearly July, involving many members who are unlikely to be
\nreelected for another five-year term.<\/p>\n
The resulting lack of morale in the House and the threat of
\ncorruption meant these legislators should continue deliberating
\nthe remaining mountain of bills but should not endorse them,
\nanalyst Mohammad Qodari of the Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI)
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"The election has taken place and new House members have been
\nelected, therefore the legislators should not make fundamental
\ndecisions,\" Qodari said. \"They have lost their legitimacy, but
\nthey should continue their work,\" Qodari told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
The General Elections Commission is expected to announce the
\nofficial result of the April 5 legislative elections and the
\nelected legislators by the end of this month; however ongoing
\ntallies show the parties of many legislators will have a
\ndeclining share of the 550 seats compared to their 1999 results.<\/p>\n
Many legislators were either not picked by their parties for
\nthe next term or were placed too low on their party candidate
\nlists to win seats.<\/p>\n
Qodari was also responding to fears about the impact on new
\nlegislation if legislators on the way out failed to turn up to
\nHouse sessions.<\/p>\n
Former legislator Ichsanuddin Noorsy is among those who have
\nraised fears legislators would use the remainder of their terms
\nto take bribes. Among the priorities of the finance commission
\nfor the next sitting period is the selection of the Supreme Audit
\nAgency heads and board members.<\/p>\n
Apprehension has also been raised about the impact of rushed
\ndeliberations on important legislation the passing of laws with
\ncontentious content.<\/p>\n
Citing the revision of the regional autonomy law, Qodari said
\nlegislators should not revive a \"centralistic approach\" and
\ninstead support ideas for direct gubernatorial and regental
\nelections.<\/p>\n
Andi Mattalatta, a legislator of the commission in charge of
\nhome and legal affairs which will oversee changes in the regional
\nautonomy law, said faction leaders in the House \"must encourage
\ntheir members to perform well in the remaining term.\"<\/p>\n
He said the House's performance would also likely be affected
\nby the presidential election slated for July 5.<\/p>\n
In the previous session before the recess for campaigning in
\nearly April, the House had aimed to finish deliberating 54 bills.
\nIt had only endorsed four.<\/p>\n
Baharuddin Aritonang, a member of the House's Legislation Body
\n(Baleg), who failed to be reelected, promised he would keep
\nfocused on his job.<\/p>\n
He denied speculation legislators who were not reelected would
\nuse the remaining time to extort money. \"Had I had such
\nintentions, I could have done so from the beginning of my term,\"
\nAritonang said.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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