MPR not evenly represented, says observer<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The system for recruiting members to the
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly (MPR), the body in charge of
\nelecting a president and adopting State Policy Guidelines, is in
\nneed of revision, an observer says.<\/p>\n
Noted political and military observer Sayidiman Suryohadiprojo
\nsaid here Saturday that he was not yet \"satisfied\" with the
\ncurrent electoral procedures and the recruitment system, which
\nfails in ensuring optimum representation.<\/p>\n
Sayidiman, the former governor of the Institute of National
\nResilience, was elaborating on his recent suggestion that the MPR
\nconvene at least twice during its five-year term to ensure
\ngreater presidential accountability.<\/p>\n
According to Sayidiman, the MPR should first assemble at the
\nbeginning of its term and again when it reaches the halfway stage
\nof its five-year term.<\/p>\n
\"That way, the person who is mandated president by the MPR
\nwill be able to give an account of his duties to the same body
\nthat elects him,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In addition to increasing its sitting sessions, he said MPR
\nmembers should also be elected in such a way as to represent the
\npopulation more fairly. The current proportional representation
\nelectoral system \"has not produced an optimum (makeup) of
\nrepresentatives,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He suggested that future general elections combine the
\nproportional representation system with a first-past-the-post
\nsystem with representatives of the Armed Forces.<\/p>\n
\"The MPR and DPR should consist of two 'segments' of members,\"
\nhe said. \"The first group should be elected directly using the
\nfirst-past-the-post system at the regency level, while the second
\ngroup would be elected by proportional representation\".<\/p>\n
\"The number of MPR members (who are also DPR members) doesn't
\nhave to be 500 as long as it really reflects the people,\" he
\nsaid. \"It would have a stronger 'posture' and its function would
\nbe more guaranteed.\"<\/p>\n
In addition, he said, the legislative bodies would be stronger
\nand better able to carry out their function as a checks and
\nbalances force vis a vis the executive branch.<\/p>\n
Sayidiman, who is also a former ambassador to Japan, also
\ncriticized the fact that the MPR sitting session only lasts for
\n11 days. The period is simply too short for members to deal with
\nthe national interests that are at stake, he said.<\/p>\n
\"Too many issues of national interest are not touched on
\nduring those eleven days,\" he said, adding that more needs to be
\naccomplished at an assembly that costs Rp 11 billion, the amount
\nspent during the 1993 MPR assembly.<\/p>\n
The 1,000-member Assembly convenes in March of the first year
\nof its five-year tenure to deliberate and adopt the State Policy
\nGuidelines and to elect a president. The membership includes 500
\nmembers of the House of Representatives (DPR).<\/p>\n
The current Assembly was established in October 1992. It
\nwitnessed an incumbent President Soeharto, then completing his
\nfifth term, deliver his account of his 1987-1992 leadership in
\nMarch 1993. It then re-elected Soeharto to a sixth term. (swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mpr-not-evenly-represented-says-observer-1447893297",
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