PPP cautious on plan to cut House commissions<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The United Development Party (PPP) is opting to
\nwait and see what happens to an unprecedented plan to cut the
\nnumber of House of Representatives commissions, a party official
\nsaid yesterday.<\/p>\n
PPP faction secretary Dja'far Siddiq said his party would
\ninstead promote its original amendment proposal to empower
\nlegislators to face the invincible government.<\/p>\n
The House has been forced to revise its internal rules to
\naccommodate the poor performance of the Indonesian Democratic
\nParty (PDI) in the May election, when it only won 11 seats.<\/p>\n
A proposal by the ruling party, Golkar, to reduce the number
\nof commissions seems the favorite way to cope with the PDI's
\nunder representation. The PDI and the Armed Forces factions are
\nqueuing up to support the plan.<\/p>\n
The House now has 11 commissions.<\/p>\n
A commission does not have a quorum without the presence of a
\nrepresentative from each House faction. Each party must also have
\na representative in the House's leadership. Legislators in the
\nleadership are not allowed to be members of House commissions or
\ncommittees.<\/p>\n
The House has set up a team of 21 legislators, including the
\nchairman and secretary of each faction, to discuss proposed
\nchanges to internal rules. The team is expected to release its
\nfindings by July 22.<\/p>\n
"We did not touch on Golkar's proposal in our recent internal
\ntalks. Let's see how the floor responds to the plan in the team's
\nnext plenary meeting," Dja'far said.<\/p>\n
Each faction is finishing its own amendment proposal to be
\npresented at the team's next meeting scheduled for next
\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
He said that some PPP members had offered to compromise with
\nGolkar.<\/p>\n
"They agree to cutting the House commissions to 10 by
\nreplacing the commission in charge of the state budget with a
\nspecial committee," Dja'far said.<\/p>\n
But he doubted that the dissolution of the state budget
\ncommission would support the party's determination to empower the
\nHouse.<\/p>\n
"The commission is a strategic one because it deals with the
\nstate's funds. A special committee cannot perform as effectively
\nas a permanent commission which works on state budgetary matters
\n12 months a year," he said.<\/p>\n
He said he personally opposed Golkar's proposal because it
\nwould reduce legislators' efficiency.<\/p>\n
"Two commissions will merge into a new and overcrowded one. It
\nwill fall short in deliberations and not have enough time to
\nlisten to each of its members who may have a brilliant idea," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He suggested that the House maintain its 11 commissions but
\nmodify the quorum requirement to only three factions. The current
\nrules say that decision making must involve all four factions.<\/p>\n
"Such a quorum works in provincial legislative bodies. Why
\ndoesn't it apply in the House?" he said.<\/p>\n
PPP legislators submitted a proposal in early April to amend
\nthe House rules in the wake of growing public demands for
\ndemocracy and a quality legislative body.<\/p>\n
They said legislators required a mechanism which improved
\ntheir mobility and self-reliance.<\/p>\n
The internal rules, revised in 1983, are said to discourage
\nlegislators' initiative and reduce their role to merely rubber
\nstamping government policies. (amd)<\/p>",
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