Bill on lawmaking procedures passed

Bill on lawmaking procedures passed

Moch. N. Kurniawan, Jakarta

The House of Representatives (DPR) endorsed on Monday the bill on
lawmaking procedures, with all nine factions agreeing to place
the 1945 Constitution in the State Archive.

Previously, Golkar Party, the biggest faction of the House,
insisted that the bill could not regulate the newly amended 1945
Constitution as the latter's position was higher than law.

It had also argued that the Constitution could not be treated
as ordinary law. All laws are placed in the State Archive when
they take effect.

On Monday, however, Golkar's spokesman for the bill's
deliberation J.M. Nailiu told a House plenary meeting that his
party had finally agreed to place the Constitution in the State
Archive.

He did not explain his party's change of mind.

The government, represented by acting minister of justice and
human rights Attorney General M.A. Rahman, accepted the approved
bill from the House.

Other factions that deliberated the bill were the ruling
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) faction, the
United Development Party (PPP) faction, the Reform faction, the
National Awakening Party (PKB) faction, the Indonesian
Military/Police Faction, the Crescent and Star Party (PBB)
faction, the Ummat Sovereignty (FKU) faction and the Nationhood
(FKKI) faction.

Besides the final agreement over the placement of the 1945
Constitution in the State Archive, the bill also provides the
public at large with greater access to the legislative
deliberation process at all levels of government.

Agustin Teras Narang, chairman of the House Commission II
overseeing home affairs, said the bill also stated that the
hierarchy of laws in Indonesia was: the Constitution, the law or
governmental regulations in lieu of the law, governmental
regulations, presidential regulations and regional administration
regulations.

He said regional administration regulations consisted of
provincial regulations, regental/municipal regulations and
village regulations.

The TNI/Police faction spokesman Jasri Marin said
socialization and preparations should be made in villages so that
village administration officials would not be confused over the
procedure to make rulings.

During the final session, the House also agreed to propose the
bill on the revision of Law No. 31/1997 on military courts.