House proposes regular talks with President<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives proposed on
\nWednesday consultation meetings every two months with the
\nPresident in a bid to improve communications between the state's
\nhighest institutions.<\/p>\n
House Speaker Akbar Tandjung told reporters after a meeting
\nwith his deputies that the proposal would be delivered to
\nPresident Abdurrahman Wahid as soon as possible.<\/p>\n
\"To build a good relationship between the House and the
\ngovernment and to share views on problems the nation is facing,
\nit's necessary for both of us to meet more frequently,\" Akbar
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The consultation meetings should be hosted by the government
\nand the House in turn, Akbar said.<\/p>\n
Before the fall of the New Order in May last year, the
\npresident used to meet House members face-to-face twice a year to
\ndeliver the state budget proposal and the regular state of the
\nnation speech on the eve of the country's anniversary of
\nindependence.<\/p>\n
Former president Habibie broke the long-standing tradition,
\nbut his visits to the House were always incidental. During his
\n17-month tenure, Habibie accepted the House's invitation three
\ntimes to clarify, among other things, the government's policy on
\nEast Timor and the state security bill.<\/p>\n
Akbar said Abdurrahman had accepted the House's request for a
\nhearing on the latter's decision to scrap the ministries of
\ninformation and social services on Thursday. The meeting was
\noriginally slated for Monday, but postponed because Abdurrahman
\nwas still on his overseas trip.<\/p>\n
During Wednesday's meeting, the House also agreed to cut short
\nprocedures required for decision making on urgent matters, Akbar
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"In a special case which needs a quick response from the
\nHouse, the decision can be made in a meeting between the House
\nspeaker, deputy speakers and heads of factions. They will be
\nobliged to just report the result of the meeting in a plenary
\nsession,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Akbar said the House would further discuss the criteria of the
\nurgent matters.<\/p>\n
He said the House should have quickly responded to the
\ngovernment's plan to release 90 political prisoners.<\/p>\n
\"But the old procedures in the House forced the prisoners to
\nwait for three weeks to learn their fate,\" Akbar said. The
\ngovernment's amnesty requires the House's approval, according to
\nthe amended Constitution.<\/p>\n
The House leaders also agreed to draw up a code of ethics for
\nthe legislators. An ad hoc team will be assigned to carry out the
\njob. (02)<\/p>",
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