Legislators urged to be more critical<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): House Speaker Wahono called on members of the
\nHouse of Representatives yesterday to pump up their courage and
\ndare to criticize government policies.<\/p>\n
Wahono said in his speech which marked the 52nd anniversary of
\nthe House, which is often criticized for meekness, that criticism
\ncould at least serve as proof that legislators exercised their
\nconstitutional duties as representatives of the people.<\/p>\n
\"The House plays a strategic role as a chain connecting public
\naspirations and government policies. We are obliged to
\ncourageously ask government officials about various matters which
\nbecome public concern,\" Wahono said.<\/p>\n
Also present at the celebration were Mrs. Try Sutrisno, the
\nwife of Vice President Try Sutrisno, Coordinating Minister for
\nPolitical Affairs and Security Soesilo Soedarman, Coordinating
\nMinister for People's Welfare Azwar Anas, former House speaker
\nKharis Suhud, Armed Forces Chief of Sociopolitical Affairs Lt.
\nGen. Syarwan Hamid, Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Sutiyoso
\nand many other former House leaders.<\/p>\n
Wahono said people had lodged complaints with the House over
\nvarious issues through rallies or letters, hoping that the body
\nwould mediate.<\/p>\n
\"The complaints, as well as our findings at the grassroots
\nlevel, have always served as important input in our meetings with
\nthe government.\" Wahono said.<\/p>\n
He said House efforts to channel public aspirations had in
\nmany cases bore fruit. He said the ban on the national lottery
\nSDSB in 1994 and the disclosure of an embezzlement case worth
\nUS$620 million committed by businessman Edy Tanzil in 1995 were
\nobvious examples of jobs well done by the House.<\/p>\n
Wahono also hailed legislators for exercising their amendment
\nright in many deliberations of government-sponsored bills.<\/p>\n
A total of 374 bills will have been passed by the House in the
\nNew Order era when current legislators wrap up their term on
\nSept. 30.<\/p>\n
The House currently has three bills left for deliberation,
\nincluding the broadcasting bill. The government prompted an
\nunprecedented second deliberation of the broadcasting bill, now
\nunderway, due to some problematic articles.<\/p>\n
Feudalism<\/p>\n
Wahono said the success of the House's efforts to channel
\npublic complaints would heavily depend on the government's
\nwillingness to respond.<\/p>\n
He complained that the House might not be able to empower
\nitself, despite the fact that it had already amended its internal
\nrules, due to a political culture that provided no room for
\ndifferent opinions.<\/p>\n
\"If paternalism, feudalism, uneasiness ... are maintained, our
\npainstaking efforts to amend the internal rules will not (result)
\nin (the improvement) of ourselves,\" Wahono said.<\/p>\n
The House will pass amendments of its internal rules on Sept.
\n19. They include a simplified mechanism for legislators to
\nexercise their rights and a reduction of House commissions from
\n11 to eight to enable the underrepresented Indonesian Democratic
\nParty (PDI) to participate in decision-making processes.<\/p>\n
Saiful Sulun, who was deputy house speaker from 1987 to 1992,
\nagreed with Wahono, saying that all initiatives to empower the
\nHouse would be a waste without significant changes in the current
\npolitical system.<\/p>\n
\"Our political system has yet to give enough power to the
\nHouse to carry out its supervision over the government. But we
\nare heading toward an ideal system,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Yesterday's celebration saw 28 legislators awarded the Satya
\nLencana Wirakarya medal by President Soeharto. Among the
\nlegislators were deputy speakers Ismail Hasan Metareum of the
\nUnited Development Party and Soerjadi of PDI. All of the awarded
\nlegislators have been in service for four consecutive five-year
\nterms.<\/p>\n
The newly born Republic of Indonesia set up on Aug. 29, 1945,
\na national committee which carried out legislation until the
\nHouse of Representatives and the People's Consultative Assembly
\nwere created as suggested by the 1945 Constitution.<\/p>\n
Indonesia managed only to form a provisional House of
\nRepresentatives in the late 1950s after President Sukarno
\nannounced a decree which reinstated the 1945 Constitution.<\/p>\n
The House became a permanent body after the 1971 general
\nelection, the first poll under the New Order administration.
\n(10\/amd)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/legislators-urged-to-be-more-critical-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}