House okays yearly legislation plan<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives approved yesterday
\nan annual legislation program to be delivered by the President
\nduring the State Budget plan.<\/p>\n
Syamsul Mu'arif, who chairs a special committee considering an
\namendment to the House internal rule, said approval would be
\nsought from the government.<\/p>\n
\"A clear plan will allow both House legislators and the
\ngovernment to make better preparation and enable the government
\nto set the budget,\" Syamsul said.<\/p>\n
The annual program was one of six crucial issues the special
\ncommittee, which started early this month, has been deliberating.
\nThe 21-strong committee will continue until mid-September.<\/p>\n
Syamsul said that, if approved by the government, a team made
\nup of government officials and House legislators would meet every
\nfive years to arrange the distribution of bills. The program
\nshould be included in the government's development planning held
\nevery five years.<\/p>\n
The team would come together to arrange the schedule of the
\nbills to be discussed before the President delivered the annual
\nState Budget plan, Syamsul said.<\/p>\n
\"However the plan should not restrict either the government or
\nthe House from submitting extra bills if they are urgently
\nrequired\", Syamsul said.<\/p>\n
The government initiated the national legislation program in
\nthe early 1970s but it did not work. Under that system, the
\nMinistry of Justice was required to draw up a so-called master
\nplan of draft bills to be submitted to the House for the five-
\nyear term.<\/p>\n
House legislators have long complained of too many bills being
\nsubmitted before the end of their term.<\/p>\n
With the endorsement of the bill on narcotics yesterday, there
\nare still seven bills and the House internal rule amendment to be
\ncompleted before the term ends on Sept. 30.<\/p>\n
Twenty-two government sponsored bills have been submitted to
\nthe House since January.<\/p>\n
Commission<\/p>\n
Syamsul said the House committee had yet to reach agreement on
\na legislator's rights; the number of commissions and commission
\nchairmanships; the quorum needed for regular and special
\nsessions; the House's control of the state budget; and
\nconsultation and coordination between the House and the state's
\ntop institutions.<\/p>\n
Chief of the United Development Party (PPP) faction, Hamzah
\nHaz, said yesterday the next House looked set to have fewer
\ncommissions to accommodate the under-represented Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party (PDI).<\/p>\n
PDI managed only 11 House seats in the May 29 general
\nelections, compared to Golkar's 325 and PPP's 89.<\/p>\n
\"Reducing House commissions is unavoidable because PDI cases
\nwill adversely affect any decision making process here,\" Hamzah
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He said PPP wanted to drop two of the current 11 House
\ncommissions to make it feasible for PDI legislators to carry out
\ntheir legislative duties.<\/p>\n
Hamzah refused to reveal which commissions may be scrapped,
\nsaying that the decision would be made by the House consultative
\nbody which includes all faction leaders and the House's top
\nmembers.<\/p>\n
Aside from fielding representatives in each of the
\ncommissions, a faction is always keen to have a seat in the House
\nleadership board. (amd)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/house-okays-yearly-legislation-plan-1447893297",
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