Govt opposes Cabinet, advisory bills<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government considers the contents of the Cabinet ministry and
\nthe presidential advisory council bills prepared by the House of
\nRepresentatives detrimental to the discretionary power of the
\npresident.<\/p>\n
The objection was raised on Tuesday during a meeting between
\nHouse leaders and the government who were represented by Minister
\nof Home Affairs Hari Sabarno, State Minister of Administrative
\nReforms Feisal Tamin, and State Secretary Bambang Kesowo.<\/p>\n
While neither House Speaker Akbar Tandjung nor the ministers
\ndisclosed details of the discussion, chairman of the House
\nLegislation Body Zein Badjeber said the ministers expressed
\ndisagreement with the contents of the two bills, which they said
\nwould limit the discretionary powers of the president.<\/p>\n
Quoting the ministers, Zein said the Cabinet ministry bill did
\nnot give enough room for the president to form his or her own
\nCabinet.<\/p>\n
The Cabinet ministry bill proposes 31 ministries, 21 of which
\nwould have supporting offices in the regions (known as portfolio
\nministries).<\/p>\n
\"The government says that the Cabinet ministry bill restricts
\nthe discretionary power of the president in forming the Cabinet.
\nIt gives the president no choice,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Zein said the government had suggested that the Cabinet
\nministry bill only determine six mandatory ministries: the
\nMinistry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the
\nMinistry of Defense, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of
\nReligious Affairs and the Ministry of Justice.<\/p>\n
Regarding the presidential advisory council bill, the
\ngovernment disagreed with an article that may be exploited to
\nimpeach the president.<\/p>\n
The article states that the president must pay serious
\nattention to the advice of the council.<\/p>\n
\"What if the president does not heed the advice? The
\ngovernment fears this could be construed as a violation and be
\nexploited to impeach the president,\" Zein added.<\/p>\n
Zein joined deputy speakers Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno, A.M.
\nFatwa and Muhaimin Iskandar in accompanying Akbar during the
\nclosed-door meeting.<\/p>\n
During a joint press conference that followed the meeting,
\nAkbar promised he would discuss the government's concern with
\nleaders of the House factions.<\/p>\n
Hari, however, refused to elaborate on the government's stance
\nconcerning the two bills, which are ready for deliberation
\ndespite the recess.<\/p>\n
\"We are here to present our views regarding the contents of
\nthe bills on Cabinet ministry and presidential advisory council,\"
\nHari said.<\/p>\n
Akbar said the three ministers provided inputs to enrich the
\ntwo bills from the constitutional and political point of view.<\/p>\n
Commenting on the concern, Akbar said that the House leaders
\nwere not in a position to respond to the issue. He said he would
\nsummon the leaders of House factions to discuss the issue.<\/p>\n
\"We ask the government to articulate its concern and discuss
\nit with the legislators,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Akbar said President Megawati Soekarnoputri had not assigned
\nministers to represent the government in the deliberation of the
\nbills.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-opposes-cabinet-advisory-bills-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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