State secretary critical of presidency bill<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
State Secretary Bambang Kesowo questioned on Monday the content
\nof the presidency bill that the House of Representatives (DPR)
\nsubmitted to the President in December 2001, saying that most of
\nthe stipulations in the draft have been set out in the
\nConstitution.<\/p>\n
Bambang told the House's Commission I for security and state
\nsecretariat affairs on Monday that the draft also curtailed some
\nof the authority of the president.<\/p>\n
\"Limitations on the power of the president will decrease the
\neffectiveness of the government in carrying out its duties,\"
\nBambang opined.<\/p>\n
He took particular issue with the stipulation in the bill that
\nrequired the president to secure an approval from the House
\nbefore deciding on the number of ministries he or she would have.<\/p>\n
\"That is definitely the authority of the executive body (the
\npresident). This (intervention) will only create problems,\"
\nBambang said.<\/p>\n
Bambang was referring to Article 17 of the bill which states
\nthat the president has the authority to form, merge and dissolve
\nministries, but only after approval from the House.<\/p>\n
Legislator Aisyah Aminy of the United Development Party (PPP),
\nhowever, defended the provision, saying the stipulation was aimed
\nat preventing a sudden dissolution of a ministry.<\/p>\n
Former president Abdurrahman Wahid dissolved the ministries of
\ninformation and social affairs in 1999 as part of efforts to stop
\nthe government from interfering with the lives of citizens.<\/p>\n
Bambang, however, argued that the existence of certain
\nministries was dependent on the country's needs.<\/p>\n
\"Whether or not the president disbands the ministry of women's
\nempowerment, for example, depends on the situation,\" he stated.<\/p>\n
The bill also makes it clear that the president or vice
\npresident was not allowed to receive donations of more than Rp 25
\nmillion (currently around US$2,900).<\/p>\n
Also during the hearing, Aisyah Aminy pointedly remarked that
\nthe House had submitted 14 bills to the President, but she had
\nnot yet responded to them.<\/p>\n
Some of those bills were submitted in early 2002, languishing
\nat the State Secretariat for two years.<\/p>\n
Bills at the State Secretariat<\/p>\n
No. Bills Date of Submission<\/p>\n
1. Postal Affairs Dec. 16, 2003<\/p>\n
2. Witness and Victim Protection Sept. 18, 2003<\/p>\n
3. Discrimination Eradication Sept. 18, 2003<\/p>\n
4. Ombudsman Sept. 18, 2003<\/p>\n
5. Fisheries July 9 , 2003<\/p>\n
6. Batam Free Trade Zone Jan. 20 , 2003<\/p>\n
7. Sports Sept. 27, 2002<\/p>\n
8. Migrant Workers Protection May 27, 2003<\/p>\n
9. Domestic Violence May 27, 2003<\/p>\n
10. National Health Insurance July 14, 2003<\/p>\n
11. Bank Credit June 9, 2002<\/p>\n
12. Judicial Commission June 16, 2002<\/p>\n
13. West Sulawesi Province Feb. 5, 2002<\/p>\n
14. Presidency Dec. 6, 2001<\/p>\n
Source: House's Legislation Body<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/state-secretary-critical-of-presidency-bill-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }