Assembly factions discuss standing orders

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.