Annual Session lacks fervor from the media and public

Annual Session lacks fervor from the media and public

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Annual Session of the People's Consultative Assembly
(MPR), scheduled to start on Nov. 1, is unlikely to draw
enthusiasm from the public and the mass media due to the less
crucial issues to be discussed.

Unlike the Special Session in July that led to the unseating
of former president Abdurrahman Wahid, the main agenda of the
upcoming session will focus on the deliberation of the amendment
to the Constitution.

No extraordinary preparations will appear ahead of the
session.

"We have yet to carry out technical activities. We are still
focusing on preparations for the Assembly's working body," Ad-Hoc
Committee secretary Sri Sumarwati told The Jakarta Post here on
Friday.

Therefore, there has been no exact agenda for the session thus
far as the working body will only convene on Oct. 23 to disclose
the schedule, she said.

The lack of enthusiasm could also be seen from the small
number of media registering their reporters, even though the
deadline for registration is in three days.

"Usually, at least 1,000 media are registered for the Assembly
meeting. But up until today, only 120 print media have
registered," a staff member said.

The head of the protocol department, Sadino, said that his
office had not sent any invitations to members of the Assembly,
government officials and envoys to attend the session.

"Foreign ambassadors will be invited to watch the opening and
closing ceremonies of the Annual Session. Along with state
officials, the number of invited guests is expected to reach 600
people," he said.

MPR secretary-general Umar Basalim could not be reached for
comment on the proposed Rp 20 billion (US$20,000) budget for the
week-long meeting.

A source said the Ad-Hoc Committee had outlined at least five
MPR draft decrees for the upcoming session. They include internal
regulations of the MPR, a recommendation for the policy on
prevention and eradication of corruption, collusion and nepotism,
the agrarian reform, national life ethics and the outlook for
Indonesia's future.