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.