House faction agree to set up code of ethics<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Leaders of all four factions in the House of
\nRepresentatives have approved a plan to set up a code of ethics
\nfor legislators, Deputy House Speaker Syarwan Hamid said
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
Syarwan said the House and faction leaders had reached an
\nagreement in their initial meeting to discuss the plan that
\nmembers of the legislative body need a common code of values.<\/p>\n
\"The meeting was just an initial step, let's say a
\nbrainstorming. We will hold more discussions and perhaps form a
\nspecial working committee to define the common values,\" Syarwan
\ntold journalists yesterday after a leadership meeting at the
\nHouse.<\/p>\n
House Speaker and Golkar chief Harmoko presided over the
\nweekly meeting.<\/p>\n
Syarwan said executives from the four factions would consult
\nwith their party in the near future before the deliberation of
\nthe plan to establish a code of ethics resumes.<\/p>\n
He said the initial discussion between House leaders and their
\ncounterparts from the four factions had yet to touch on the
\nappropriate form of guidance of conduct.<\/p>\n
\"We have learned various kinds of codes that apply in other
\ncountries, including India, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and
\nthe United States. But we avoid naming our code of ethics (for
\nnow),\" Syarwan said.<\/p>\n
He said it might be necessary for the House to make a
\ncomparative study on the codes applied in different countries,
\nbut the future so-called House code of ethics would refer to
\ninternal rules and the oath taken by legislators in their
\ninauguration.<\/p>\n
Syarwan said the House leaders had not set a deadline for the
\ncode's endorsement.<\/p>\n
\"However, we hope to see the code enacted in our term,\" he
\nsaid. The current House term will end in 2002.<\/p>\n
The House has been beleaguered by bribery allegations, just as
\nit launched a campaign to live up to its status as the top state
\ninstitution which is equal with the President.<\/p>\n
The campaign to improve the image of the House includes
\ngreater participation in the development of laws and performance
\nenhancement of the House.<\/p>\n
Several legislators deliberating the recently passed manpower
\nbill admitted they received incentives from the government,
\nsaying that such practices had long been applied.<\/p>\n
Funds to underwrite the deliberations of the manpower bill
\nwere taken from the state-owned workers' security company PT
\nJamsostek upon the request of Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief.<\/p>\n
The minister later said President Soeharto ordered the use of
\nJamsostek's funds.<\/p>\n
During yesterday's meeting, leaders of the House and the four
\nfactions also agreed to form a special team to deliberate with
\nthe government in anticipation of the kinds of bills the country
\nwould need in the next five years. (amd)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/house-faction-agree-to-set-up-code-of-ethics-1447893297",
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