Legislators submit antimonopoly bill, start deliberation<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives (DPR) began on
\nFriday the deliberation of the long-awaited antimonopoly bill,
\nintroduced to ensure fair competition in the country's business
\nactivities.<\/p>\n
The draft law, which is called the Prohibition of Monopoly
\nPractices Bill and consists of 11 chapters and 53 verses, was
\nsubmitted by a group of 38 legislators from the House's four
\nfactions.<\/p>\n
If the draft law is approved, it will become the first law
\ndrafted and submitted by House members, who according to the
\nConstitution have the right to make a law but have never
\nexercised the privilege.<\/p>\n
Group member Rambe Kamarulzaman of the ruling Golkar faction
\nsaid on Friday the representatives exercised their \"initiative
\nrights\" to propose the legislation, which had not been invoked
\nsince being introduced in 1971.<\/p>\n
He said the government had prepared its own draft law on
\ncombating monopolies but the House decided to first deliberate
\nthe group's draft.<\/p>\n
\"Our draft was the first one submitted to the House, that is
\nwhy it will be deliberated first,\" Rambe said.<\/p>\n
A similar plenary session will be held next Thursday to hear
\nthe House's response to the draft law, he said, adding that if
\nthe bill is accepted then the House would form a working group to
\ndebate it further.<\/p>\n
Rambe said the House decided to draft a law on monopolies out
\nof concern for the current unhealthy business climate in the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
\"Many people currently have to suffer from monopolistic
\nbusiness practices in the country,\" he said. \"We think it's
\nimportant to draft a bill which prohibits any graft practices
\nwhich could lead to monopoly,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Much of the business sector in the country is currently
\ncontrolled by a handful of business groups involving former
\npresident Soeharto's circle, making the economy more fragile in
\ntimes like the current crisis.<\/p>\n
Rambe said the legislators' draft was prepared over three and
\na half months from May 28 to Sept. 13.<\/p>\n
The drafting process involved experts, economists, academics,
\nbusiness figures and non-governmental organizations, he said.<\/p>\n
He said the group would deliver the draft to President B.J.
\nHabibie and request that government representatives study the
\nbill.<\/p>\n
The bill outlaws business agreements which might distort
\nmarket competition such as price fixing, market allocations,
\nboycotts, closed deals, cartels, trusts, monopolies, and vertical
\nintegrations.<\/p>\n
The bill would also prohibit market domination, conspiracy
\nagainst business rivals, deceiving trading schemes and
\nfraudulent practices.<\/p>\n
It regulates dubious maneuvers which might be considered
\nmonopolies, such as mergers, consolidations, liquidations,
\nacquisitions, as well as holding multiple executive jobs.<\/p>\n
The bill advocates the establishment of a Commission for
\nBusiness Competition to investigate, adjudicate and advise on the
\nmonitoring of the law's implementation.<\/p>\n
Violators of the law will face administrative and criminal
\ncharges, the legislation says. (das)<\/p>",
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