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)