API Foundation to publish parliament guide

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)