Political moves at DPR unpopular<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
A recent move by legislators to summon President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri to explain her recent visit to the newly declared
\ncountry of East Timor met with strong opposition from fellow
\nlawmakers on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
"The visit took place and brought no negative impact (to the
\ncountry). Why (do they) create a problem?" asked Amien Rais, the
\nchairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN) and speaker of the
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly (MPR).<\/p>\n
"As a House member, I think it (the proposal to summon the
\nPresident) would only create a new problem," Amien said without
\nelaborating.<\/p>\n
Baharuddin Aritonang of the Golkar faction, the second largest
\nfaction in the House, also expressed opposition to the proposal,
\ncalling the petition a "childish move".<\/p>\n
The two lawmakers were responding to a move initiated by
\nGolkar's Yasril Ananta Baharuddin to summon Megawati over her
\nvisit to East Timor when the tiny country declared its
\nindependence on May 19. The move had gained the support of 31
\nlegislators from all factions but the military\/police faction.<\/p>\n
The move, if pursued, could spark political bickering between
\nthe legislative and the executive, which could lead to a
\nweakening governance.<\/p>\n
Earlier, a group of legislators submitted a petition demanding
\nMegawati to explain the source of a Rp 30 billion donation she
\ngave to the military and police in February.<\/p>\n
Political observers expressed fear that the proposal could
\naffect the performance of the House of Representatives (DPR) in
\ndeliberating bills. The House had pledged to deliberate and pass
\n22 bills in the next three months.<\/p>\n
Apart from the 22 bills, the House also has to deliberate
\nbills on elections and political parties, which are urgently
\nneeded for the elections in 2004.<\/p>\n
In the January to March session, the House failed to meet its
\nlegislation target. Of the 22 bills up before the House, the
\nlegislators could only deliberate and enact three into law.<\/p>\n
Responding to the opposition and criticism, some legislators
\nthat lent support to the move denied speculation that it would
\naffect the legislation process.<\/p>\n
Hamdan Zoelva of the Crescent Star Party (PBB) said the
\npetition to summon Megawati would not take much time.<\/p>\n
"It would only take two hours, so that speculation is only an
\nexaggeration," Hamdan told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Fellow legislator Rodjil Ghufron of the National Awakening
\nParty (PKB) concurred, saying that the slow-paced process of
\ndeliberation was caused by the importance of the draft law.<\/p>\n
Citing an example, Rodjil said that the deliberation of the
\nbill on the anticorruption commission was stalled due to the
\ninability of legislators and government officials to outline the
\ncommission's authority.<\/p>\n
The bill on the anticorruption commission was one of the 22
\ndraft laws before the House in the last session, but a team of
\nlegislators and government officials was still working on it.<\/p>\n
"This is simply because of the bill's content. The team is
\nunable to outline the authority of the anticorruption
\ncommission," Rodjil told the Post.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/political-moves-at-dpr-unpopular-1447893297",
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