Call for MPR reform gets positive response

JAKARTA (JP): The latest call for the highest law making body, the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), to be more active received a positive response from a senior official of the body yesterday.

Soerjadi, one of the MPR deputy chiefs, said that the law- making body should convene not only once every five years as has been practiced over the past three decades, but should meet more frequently to discuss major state problems.

"I personally think issues like the growing public demand for democracy and prompt actions to narrow the gap between the rich and the poor are worth addressing at the moment," said the deputy in charge of economic affairs.

The latest call for the Assembly, which cynics have branded as a rubber stamp institution for its perceived eagerness to endorse government policies, came from respected political analyst Sayidiman Suryohadiprojo last week.

Sayidiman argued that the 1,000-seat Assembly, which is also in charge of electing a president, should convene at least twice a year to ensure greater presidential accountability.

The MPR assembles every five years to deliberate the guidelines of state policy, review laws on politics and elect a president.

The MPR, which is dominated by politicians from the ruling Golkar party, is scheduled to assemble in 1998.

Soerjadi stressed, however, that the Assembly should convene only to discuss truly urgent state matters because to call such a meeting would involve complicated and costly procedures.

"There should be no problem with meeting more than once every five years because the law states that the Assembly should convene 'at least once in every five years'", said the legislator from the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).

Proposals for the MPR and the House of Representatives to be more active hit a brick wall because of their notoriously complicated in-house rules.

For instance, to be able to propose a bill or amend a law, a political faction should have the support of other (rival) factions.

Critics have often targeted the MPR's working group for its lack of initiative in defending the interests of the people. (pan)