MPR still undecided over constitutional team<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Factions at the People's Consultative Assembly
\n(MPR) are taking a wait-and-see stand as to whether an
\nindependent commission is needed to help it amend the 1945
\nConstitution.<\/p>\n
Akbar Tandjung of the Golkar Party faction said his team was
\nwaiting for responses from other factions to the plan to set up
\nan independent body for constitutional amendments.<\/p>\n
\"We will give our support if other factions also agree to the
\nproposal,\" he said on the sidelines of the MPR Annual Session on
\nWednesday<\/p>\n
The Love the Nation Democratic Party (PDKB) faction has called
\non the Assembly to appoint experts to an independent team tasked
\nwith constitutional amendments after the MPR's efforts to do the
\njob sparked criticism from many corners.<\/p>\n
Nongovernmental organizations and political observers have
\ncriticized factions at the Assembly for being trapped by their
\nown political interests when considering the amendments.<\/p>\n
Akbar, who also chairs the Golkar Party, said that whatever
\nhappens to the proposal, his faction would support the Assembly's
\nendorsement of all matters agreed upon by representatives of
\nfactions at the working committee level.<\/p>\n
\"A constitutional commission could start their work by
\namending disputed materials,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Jacob Tobing of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
\n(PDI Perjuangan) faction said his faction had no objection to the
\nproposal and would support it if all materials amended were not
\nendorsed at the Annual Session.<\/p>\n
He conceded that the Assembly was hurriedly doing the
\namendments and the factions were thinking of their own interests.
\nHe said it would be better for the Assembly to postpone the
\napproval of the amendments until next year to give enough time
\nfor the public to contribute their ideas.<\/p>\n
\"Our faction really intends to take the amendments extra
\ncautiously because we want a constitution that will last for two
\nor three decades,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Lt. Gen. Hari Sabarno, deputy chairman of the Assembly, hailed
\nthe PDKB faction's proposal, saying amendments to the
\nconstitution should be free from political interests and
\nanticipate all possible developments over the next three decades.<\/p>\n
\"We should be extra careful in amending the constitution
\nbecause the nation is in need of a constitution that will
\nfunction as a guideline for the nation in attaining its future
\ngoals,\" he said. (rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mpr-still-undecided-over-constitutional-team-1447893297",
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