House vows to debate bills amid protests over Akbar's leadership<\/p>\n
Debbie A. Lubis, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Under the leadership of embattled Akbar Tandjung, the House of
\nRepresentatives began its latest session on Monday, pledging to
\ndebate 43 bills in just 25 working days.<\/p>\n
In his speech, marred by interruptions and walkouts by a
\nnumber of legislators in protest of his leadership, Akbar said
\nthe House aimed to pass a number of the bills to set the legal
\nframework for the 2004 general elections and direct presidential
\nelection.<\/p>\n
\"The laws are required so the 2004 general elections will not
\nbe delayed and the General Elections Committee (KPU) can prepare
\nfor it,\" said Akbar, who was convicted of corruption in the
\nNational Logistics Agency (Bulog) scandal.<\/p>\n
Political bills already in the hands of the House include
\nthose on general elections, the presidential institution,
\npolitical parties, access to public information and the structure
\nof the People's Consultative Assembly, the House, regional
\nrepresentative councils and local legislative councils.<\/p>\n
In addition, the House also planned to pass the controversial
\nbill on broadcasting, and bills on national education and the
\ncountry's judicial system.<\/p>\n
Judging from its poor performance in the past it remains
\nquestionable if the House can meet its targets.<\/p>\n
The house passed only seven bills out of 29 bills targeted to
\nbe passed into law during the first session for the 2002\/2003
\nyear that started from mid-August.<\/p>\n
The House passed only a couple of bills in the two sittings
\nprior to that.<\/p>\n
Critics have accused lawmakers of being too busy with
\nfurthering their own agendas and neglecting their legislative
\nduties.<\/p>\n
This time, the House is saddled with problems stemming from
\nits speaker, Akbar Tandjung, who was convicted by the Central
\nJakarta District Court for defrauding the public of Rp 40 billion
\n(US$4.3 million).<\/p>\n
More than 100 legislators have signed a petition, asking Akbar
\nto resign to give the House some credibility.<\/p>\n
On Monday, a number of legislators, led by Dwi Ria Latifa of
\nthe Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan),
\ninterrupted Akbar's speech and asked him to relinquish his seat.<\/p>\n
\"I urge the speaker to pay attention to the wishes of the
\npeople outside the House who demand he step down because he has
\nalready been convicted. It is also for the sake of the House's
\nimage,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Golkar Party legislator Ferry Mursyidan Baldan immediately
\nprotested, saying the interruption was against House rules.<\/p>\n
Akbar, also the Golkar Party chairman, then intervened and
\nsaid the decision about who would lead the House would be
\ndiscussed by the House Steering Committee (Bamus) on Oct. 31.<\/p>\n
He said a letter signed by more than 100 legislators demanding
\nhe step down would also be discussed.<\/p>\n
But Akbar's explanation only sparked more interruptions.<\/p>\n
Golkar co-chairwoman Marwah Daud Ibrahim said it was urgent
\nfor the House to resolve the issues around Akbar or the people's
\ninterests would be neglected.<\/p>\n
\"We should settle the problem soon instead of talking here and
\nthere. The decision to determine whether Akbar keeps on leading
\nus, or steps down temporarily, or becomes non active in House
\naffairs is decided by us altogether,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Marwah said the House should set a deadline to resolve the
\nAkbar issue, otherwise legislators would be held hostage to
\ninternal problems.<\/p>\n
Legislators then continued to make comments for almost one
\nhour while Akbar sat calmly.<\/p>\n
The legislators then let Akbar read the House's speech after
\nhe asked them to let him do so.<\/p>\n
As soon as Akbar began, a number of legislators, including Dwi
\nRia Latifa, Permadi and Julius Usman from PDI Perjuangan and Ali
\nMasykur Musa and Ida Fauziyah from the National Awakening faction
\n(FKB), walked out.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/house-vows-to-debate-bills-amid-protests-over-akbars-leadership-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}