Appointment of regional representatives queried

Appointment of regional representatives queried

JAKARTA (JP): Regional representatives to the People's
Consultative Assembly should be directly elected by the people
instead of being selected by the provincial legislatures, a
political lecturer has said.

Ichlasul Amal, rector of the Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada
University, said that electing the 135 regional representatives,
and also 65 interest group representatives, by direct ballots
would be "fair and democratic" and would ensure their commitment
to working for public aspirations.

"All villages should propose their candidates, who would be
selected at subdistrict and regency levels," Ichlasul said in a
discussion on the presidency at the House of Representatives on
Wednesday.

This would ensure their accountability, he said.

"In the next elections, the MPR regional representatives
should be directly elected by the people," he said.

The 200 representatives will sit in the 700-member People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR) and vote in the presidential
election, the main item on the agenda of the Assembly's General
Session this November.

Ichlasul said that the appointment of the regional and
interest group representatives, as stipulated by the 1999 law on
the structure of the House, MPR and provincial and regional
legislatures was "against democracy".

During the deliberation of the law last year, legislators
sought to break away from the past practice of having the 200
representatives picked by the ruling party and particularly
former president Soeharto.

Interest group representatives, for example, included youth
and professional organizations affiliated with Golkar. Governors,
many of them military members, automatically became regional
representatives. Other appointees included several military
commanders, while military officers were also included as
interest group members representing the armed forces.

Among the main changes made to the law on the composition of
the MPR regarding regional and interest group representatives was
that they be appointed by the provincial legislative councils.
Meanwhile interest group representatives are proposed through
respective groups to the House of Representatives.

"Being appointed, their (representatives') accountability
cannot be guaranteed," Ichlasul said.

Ichlasul explained that the Constitution was vague regarding
the representatives.

"The 1945 Constitution stipulates MPR members comprise all
House members, regional representatives and interest group
representatives, but it does not explain whether the two groups'
members should be appointed or elected," he said.

He said that the appointment of interest group representatives
has always been unclear.

Legislators have agreed that for the upcoming session, all
interest groups would select their own members, who would then be
approved by the General Elections Commission.

"Which groups in society should be included in the interest
groups? To me, all societal groups, including ulema, women, the
disabled and business circles, could channel their aspirations
through the existing political parties," he said.

Demands have been made for amendments to the 1945
Constitution, once a taboo subject, including the makeup of the
MPR, the presidency and other subjects.

The General Elections Commission, stipulated by law to set the
criteria for the interest groups for the 1999-2004 period, has
stated there would be 10 interest groups represented. Members
would include representatives of professionals, women, various
religions and the business community, the disabled and scholars.

Ichlasul, who is a lecturer of politics at Gadjah Mada, called
on the next General Session of the MPR to review the function of
the highest legislative body itself.

He said the function of the MPR lacked a legal basis in the
constitution, which only said the MPR was a reflection of the
people.

The constitution would need to mention whether the parliament
system uses the one chamber or two chamber system, Ichlasul said.

"If we use the two chamber system the MPR should change its
function to that of a congress like that in the United States.
With such a system, both the MPR and the House would function
democratically," he said.

Ichlasul also expressed his deep concern over the low
educational background of most legislative candidates, saying
this would be a serious hurdle to doing their job in the
legislative body.

"Future legislators should be proactive and frequently visit
science centers, such as universities and research centers, to
improve their skills and knowledge," he said in Yogyakarta on
Tuesday.

In Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi, constitutional law expert
Andi Mappajantji Amin said the constitution should clearly limit
the presidential term of office and stipulate a direct
presidential election.(rms/swa/27)