API Foundation to publish parliament guide

JAKARTA (JP): In a bid to bridge the gap between the legislators and the public, a team of researchers is working on a complete Indonesian Parliament Guide (PPI) to be launched in January.

"We try to give as much information as we can gather on our 700 members of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) and their function," Julia Suryakusuma, chairwoman of API Foundation, an institution on political research, information and publication said.

The planned 1,200-page book, is to be divided into four chapters, which describe the structure and how the legislative board works as well as a complete directory on 700 legislative members, their addresses, contact numbers, profile, education, track record, affiliation, background and experience.

"The book will also be completed with appendix, summary and statistical reviews as well as charts such as 'how a bill becomes law'. Hopefully this will help people, especially legislators to understand the legislative function," Julia said.

The foundation published the Almanac of Indonesian Political Parties prior to the June general election last year.

"We will also ask 11 NGOs to help with distribution of the book. The funding is expected to come from USAID. For the meantime we proceed with our own budget," Julia added.

"It's really hard work since many legislators are afraid to give information about themselves. In this book we will also state their sources of income, but we won't go for details," Julia said.

However, Slamet Effendi Yusuf, chairman of Golkar faction in DPR said that a special board within the House was needed to improve public access to the legislative board and its policies.

"The current public relations and information center does not yet work properly. The media also has a tendency to cover hot political news but never cares about the process behind it," Slamet said. (edt)