MPR committee deadlocked on leadership<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Ad Hoc
\nCommittee I ended a meeting on Monday in deadlock after the
\ndominant Golkar's refusal to separate the Assembly's leadership
\nfrom that of the House of Representatives (DPR) prevailed over
\nthe wishes of the other four factions.<\/p>\n
The stalemate became apparent early in the meeting and was
\nstill there after three sessions.<\/p>\n
After failing to reach an agreement in its first session, the
\ncommittee took the draft decree (on the separation of the MPR
\nfrom DPR) to a consultation forum. This move also ended without
\nagreement.<\/p>\n
After coming back for its third session, all factions agreed
\nto leave the decision to the Assembly's Working Committee.<\/p>\n
\"If the Working Committee cannot agree on the draft decree,
\neither, it would likely submit it to the Assembly's Special
\nSession (planned for Nov. 10),\" said Marwah Daud Ibrahim, the
\nchairwoman of the Ad Hoc Committee I, after closing the session.<\/p>\n
The Working Committee of the MPR (known as BP MPR), entrusted
\nwith preparing the MPR Special Session, is divided into two ad
\nhoc committees. The first is in charge of preparing general
\nelections, while the second is entrusted with preparing the
\nagenda for the special session.<\/p>\n
Marwah said all the factions agreed that the decree, if
\naccepted, would apply for MPR and DPR members elected in the next
\ngeneral election because \"we will have many more factions in the
\ntwo state institutions in line with the planned multiparty
\nsystem.\"<\/p>\n
Golkar spokesman Syamsul Muarif said his faction could not
\naccept the draft decree because the factions had no plausible and
\nsubstantial reasons as to why they wanted to separate the MPR
\nleadership from that of the DPR.<\/p>\n
He warned that a separation of the two state institutions
\nwould have the major consequence that \"the separation will bring
\nchanges to the two institutions' internal rules.\"<\/p>\n
He argued that separation contradicted the 1945 Constitution.
\nIf separated, the MPR and DPR would have to have their own
\nmembership and internal rules. At present, MPR membership is
\n1,000, half of which comprises the DPR.<\/p>\n
Hadisusastro, spokesman for the Armed Forces (ABRI) faction,
\nsaid the MPR leadership should be separated from the DPR
\nleadership because the MPR was the highest state institution.<\/p>\n
\"All existing state institutions, including the DPR and the
\npresidency, are subordinate to the MPR and, therefore, the
\nhighest state institution should have its own speaker and deputy
\nspeakers,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The two state institutions are currently chaired by the same
\nleadership.<\/p>\n
Chozin Chumaidy, representing the United Development Party
\n(PPP) faction, said the two state institutions' leadership should
\nbe separated in order to empower both.<\/p>\n
\"We propose the draft decree because the people want it ... We
\nmust give voice to the majority who have demanded the separation
\nin order to empower the MPR and the DPR,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He also said the MPR could be empowered further by giving it
\nmore tasks so it would work for the duration of its five-year
\ntenure, rather than just meeting once.<\/p>\n
\"The MPR should be given additional tasks such as reviewing
\nthe laws so that it will work from time to time. Another
\nadditional function could be to appoint the heads of the Supreme
\nAudit Agency and the Supreme Court,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Widodo AS, the chairman of the Assembly's Ad Hoc Committee II,
\nsaid that all factions on his committee agreed to abolish the
\nreferendum law but none wanted to make changes to the
\nConstitution.<\/p>\n
According to the law, the Constitution can be reviewed by the
\nMPR through a referendum in which at least two thirds of the MPR
\nmembers must be present and at least two thirds of those present
\nmust agree to the proposed changes.<\/p>\n
Widodo said that all factions also accepted the draft decree
\non lifting the subversion law and would propose that the House
\nmake another law to replace it. (rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mpr-committee-deadlocked-on-leadership-1447893297",
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