Advisory council deemed useless

Advisory council deemed useless

JAKARTA (JP): Debate on the need to replace members of the 14-
member Supreme Advisory Council (DPA) is fruitless due to strong
criticism that its performance is ineffective, two noted
observers have said.

Constitutional law expert Harun Alrasyid reiterated on
Wednesday that in the daily practice of state administration such
an advisory council was not needed.

"Public opinion says that the council is no longer needed.
Only members of the council defend its existence," he told The
Jakarta Post.

Syamsuddin Haris, a political observer of the Indonesian
Institute of Sciences, conceded, saying that the council must be
dissolved because it no longer has a significant role in the
state administration.

"We don't need that sort of institution. A constitutional
amendment regarding the council dissolution is urgently needed,"
Syamsuddin told the Post.

Harun added the presence of the council only further burdened
the state budget.

Data at the Supreme Audit Agency shows that the council's
secretariat general will be allocated Rp 6.43 billion
(US$674,000) in the 2001 state budget, with another Rp 18.94
billion ($1.98 million) for DPA members.

Referring to a draft for the amendment of the 1945
Constitution submitted by the Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada
University, Harun said the draft does not mention the advisory
council at all.

"The council has become a shelter for retired state officials
rather than a professional advisory board," he added.

Syamsuddin said that the council was used by autocratic
president Soeharto to win support for his fraudulent policies
during his 32 years in power.

"As far as I know, such an advisory council doesn't exist in
other countries. It is specifically Indonesia's. We don't need it
any longer," he said.

He said that the existence of the current advisory council was
adopted from the Dutch colonial era. "There must be revision for
a better performance, otherwise the council must be scrapped."

DPA chairman Achmad Tirtosudiro met with President Megawati
Soekarnoputri last week, demanding a final say for a continuation
of the council.

Achmad said after the meeting that the issue had been brought
to the President for intensive discussion.

The council was set up based on Law No. 3/1967, supplementary
to Law No. 4/1978.

Article 6 of the law stipulates that the tenure of council
members is five years. But in its explanation section it states
that the effective term of the council follows the tenure of the
president figure inaugurating its members.

The current advisory council was inaugurated by former
president B.J. Habibie, who left office in 1999.

Syamsuddin said what the country needs at present is the
empowerment of three institutions -- the executive, legislative
and judicial bodies.

Asked if the President can obtain input should the advisory
council be scrapped, Syamsuddin said the President can get this
from Cabinet ministers, the Vice President and presidential
assistants.

He reiterated the dissolution of the council would definitely
save the state budget. (08)