Akbar cracks joke, but House record no laughing matter
Akbar cracks joke, but House record no laughing matter
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The House of Representatives ended its last session in 2003 on
Friday bedeviled by the same old problem: a total inability to
meet its own legislative targets.
Of the 45 bills listed for passage, the House could only
finish 19, including a package of 13 bills on the establishment
of 24 regencies and municipalities.
The other six were bills on the 2004 state budget, the
settlement of industrial disputes, Bank Indonesia, the state
treasury, the judicial power and the Supreme Court.
The House was unable to wrap up the contentious water
resources bill, the deliberation of commenced on Oct. 28 last
year. It is hoped that the 26 unfinished bills will be discussed
in the next session which is due to start in mid-January,
although there are no guarantees that this will actually happen.
Apart from the 26 unfinished bills, the House hopes to also
discuss at least five private members' bills and one government-
sponsored bill.
House Speaker Akbar Tandjung said the five bills were on
population growth and prosperous families, on the national
currency, and on amendments to Law No.5/1973 on the State Audit
Agency, Law No.22/1999 on local government, and Law No.25/1999 on
financial relations between the central and local governments.
Akbar revealed that it had been agreed during discussions
between the House leadership and the chairs of the House factions
to add further provisions to the bill on the presidency.
"We hope the bill will be passed before the presidential
election on July 5," Akbar said at a plenary meeting attended by
only around 150 of the 500 House members.
The poor attendance was apparently due to the approaching
election. Many politicians were too preoccupied with campaigning
to fulfill their duties in the House.
Just minutes before delivering his speech, Akbar jokingly
asked legislator Panda Nababan from the Indonesian Democratic
Party of Struggle (PDI-P) if he was all set for the elections.
"Panda, is your candidacy OK?" he asked.
Earlier in the day, the House approved the selection of nine
members of the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) and the
five leaders of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). The
legislators also endorsed the amendment of the Bank Indonesia
Law.
Legislators also heard explanations from Minister of Foreign
Affairs Hassan Wirajuda on the loss of Sipadan-Ligitan islands to
Malaysia on Dec. 17 last year.
Hassan said the government had consistently attempted to
explain the background to the dispute long before the
International Court of Justice ruled last year that the islands
were in fact Malaysian.
Legislators Effendi Choirie and Djoko Susilo from the National
Awakening Party (PKB) and Reform factions respectively expressed
disappointment.
They said that the explanations should have been conveyed
directly by the President, not the foreign minister.
Meanwhile, House deputy speaker Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno said
that following the minister's explanations to the House, the
polemic between legislators and government officials over the
loss of the islands should be laid to rest.
"The debate is finished," he said.
Legislative Record in 2003
No. Period Target Approved bills
1. Jan.13 - March 7 53
Creation of 23 regencies and 2 municipalities, Elections, Manpower
Protection, The Advocates Profession
2. April 28 - July 9 41
State enterprises, Education system, ILO convention, Presidential
Election, Constitutional Court
3. Aug 15 - Sept 26 31
Money Laundering, Geothermal Resources, State budget revision
4. Oct.27 - Dec.19 45
13 bills on 24 regencies, 2004 state budget, Settlement of
industrial disputes, Bank Indonesia, State treasury, Judicial Power,
Supreme Court