Code of ethics draft submitted to House
Code of ethics draft submitted to House
JAKARTA (JP): House of Representatives' Legislation Body
(Baleg) submitted for deliberation on Tuesday a draft of the
House code of ethics, which bans legislators from publicly
speaking about the substance of any meeting held behind closed
doors.
House Speaker Akbar Tandjung said the code of ethics was aimed
at improving both political and moral commitments of legislators.
"But it doesn't mean that the code will restrict the
legislators from exercising their rights," Akbar, who also chairs
the Golkar Party, said after receiving the draft from Baleg
chairman Zein Badjeber.
Article 20 of the draft says that legislators are obliged to
keep confidential the substance of any closed-door meeting until
it is declassified.
The stipulation is being proposed in response to several
legislators revealing to the press the results of closed hearings
held by the House special committee investigating two high-
profile financial cases, namely the Bulog and Brunei scandals
which allegedly involve President Abdurrahman Wahid.
After a regular consultation meeting with Abdurrahman in
April, some legislators revealed that the President dismissed
Laksamana Sukardi and Yusuf Kalla as minister of investment and
state enterprises development and minister of industry and trade
respectively because of corruption.
Abdurrahman complained about the legislators' failure to
comply with an earlier deal reached between himself and the House
to keep the meeting off the record. The legislators defended
their actions, saying the public had a right to know.
The code of ethics also forbids legislators from taking up
side jobs in a bid to avoid conflicts of interest.
Article 16 of the draft says a House member is forbidden, for
example, to work as a consultant or a commissioner of a company
for fear that he or she would take advantage of their position in
the House to benefit the company or vica versa.
The draft (Article 6) also regulates that legislators should
personally attend any House session in which their presence is
required. Those who fail to appear without clear notification
could face disciplinary action.
It has become common practice for legislators to sign an
attendance form without attending a meeting.
Article 24 says House leaders can hand down sanctions,
including dismissal, against legislators who violate the code of
ethics, after consulting the House's honor council and leaders of
related factions.
Secretary-general of Abdurrahman's National Awakening Party
(PKB) Muhaimin Iskandar has repeatedly demanded the establishment
of an honor council. (jun)