House to read 3rd political bill next week<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Following the endorsement of the laws on political parties and
\ngeneral elections, the House of Representatives was scheduled to
\nread the bill on the composition of the legislative bodies, which
\ngives less power to regional representatives.<\/p>\n
Yahya Zaini, the chairman of the special committee established
\nby the House to deliberate the bill, said here on Tuesday that
\nthe deliberation of the bill was expected to take only two or
\nthree months as it contained very few contentious issues.<\/p>\n
He predicted that the contentious issues would include the
\nlegislative rights of regional representatives, and the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR) leadership.<\/p>\n
Despite being elected at a general election, regional
\nrepresentatives will have less power than legislators from the
\npolitical parties as their legislative rights will be restricted
\nto dealing with local government matters only.<\/p>\n
In the past, regional representatives were appointed but in
\nfuture in line with the amended Constitution, the regional
\nrepresentatives will be elected at general elections and be given
\nlegislative rights to make laws as part of a separate house of
\nthe MPR.<\/p>\n
Yahya said that the next question was whether a permanent MPR
\nleadership would be needed because in accordance with the
\nConstitution, the MPR would exist only when legislators
\nassembled.<\/p>\n
The bill is part of the political laws which are being
\nprepared for the 2004 general elections. The House is also about
\nto read the bill on presidential elections which was recently
\nsubmitted by the government to the legislature.<\/p>\n
Yahya said his committee was considering working through the
\nHouse recess from March 8 through April 25 to deliberate the
\nbill.<\/p>\n
"We will discuss our agenda next Thursday. Possibly, we will
\nkeep working during the upcoming recess," he added.<\/p>\n
House Deputy Speaker Soetardjo Soeryogoeritno, who is
\nresponsible for political matters, said that legislators would
\nsoon form a committee to deliberate the direct presidential
\nelections bill.<\/p>\n
Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung and the chairman of the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), Roy
\nB.B. Janis, warned legislators of another prolonged debate should
\neach faction insist on sticking by their proposals.<\/p>\n
Roy suggested that all nine factions in the House focus on
\nimproving rules instead of defending their narrow, political
\ninterests.<\/p>\n
As to the committee's leadership, Yahya will be accompanied by
\nSukowaluyo Mintorahardjo of the Indonesian Democratic Party of
\nStruggle (PDI Perjuangan), Tahir Saimima of the United
\nDevelopment Party (PPP), and Chatibul Umam Wiranu of the National
\nAwakening Party (PKB).<\/p>\n
Compared to the current Law No.4\/1999 on the composition of
\nthe legislative bodies, the bill provides for a new legislative
\nbody, the Regional Representatives Council (DPD).<\/p>\n
The also provides for the composition of the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR), House of Representatives (DPR), the
\nprovincial legislative councils, and the regency and municipal
\nlegislatures.<\/p>\n
The establishment of the DPD as part of the MPR is based on
\nthe two-chamber legislative system and is mandated by the
\nrecently amended Constitution.<\/p>",
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