Assembly factions discuss standing orders

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

People's Consultative Assembly lawmakers returned to their factions on Friday to deliberate the draft of the Assembly's standing orders, which mandates a disciplinary council to hear violations of the legislative body's code of ethics.

The disciplinary council will also have the authority to hand down penalties on Assembly members.

Assembly Speaker Amien Rais said the standing orders would take effect when the new lawmakers were installed on Oct. 1.

Amien said the code of ethics, a part of the standing orders, should serve as the guideline for the new lawmakers.

"The code will help the new Assembly members identify what can and cannot be done," Amien told the press here on Friday.

The coming Assembly will consist of 550 members of the House of Representatives and 128 members of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD), in accordance with the Election Law.

Golkar faction chairman Fredy Latumahina said the proposal to establish a disciplinary council would help the Assembly to maintain its dignity.

The council, he said, should accept inputs from the public.

He said that the Assembly's code of ethics would prohibit lawmakers from taking bribes. The disciplinary council will determine the minimum amount of money that could be considered a bribe.

According to Fredy, the council could recommend the dismissal of a House or Regional Representatives Council member who is found guilty of receiving bribes.

The faction meetings took place behind schedule. According to the original schedule, the Assembly factions should have started the meeting at 9 a.m., but most began at 2 p.m.

The lawmakers also discussed a new mechanism to elect Assembly leaders.

Currently, the Assembly has one speaker and eight deputies. Under the draft revision, there will be one speaker and only three deputies.

Since the Assembly will consist of the House and the representatives council, the composition of the Assembly leadership must reflect the presence of both legislative bodies.

The issue may prompt debate between the House and the representatives council during the first session of the Assembly scheduled for Oct. 1, when the lawmakers will elect their leaders.

Fredy suggested that the House and the DPD finish the election of their respective leaders on Oct. 1 because the elected speakers would preside over the first plenary meeting of the Assembly.

The Assembly is expected to hear the assessment of the factions on Saturday over the progress reports of the President and state institutions.