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