Commission may add MPR seats

Commission may add MPR seats

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The ad hoc Constitutional Commission assigned with assessing the
amended Constitution sprang a surprise on Tuesday when it
proposed more seats for the Regional Representatives Council
(DPD).

Saying the move was aimed at empowering the bicameral
legislative system, the commission suggested that the DPD
represent each regency/municipality and each province across the
country.

The country has 416 regencies/municipalities and 32 provinces.

"We think there is unequal power in the current bicameral
system between the House of Representatives and the Regional
Representatives Council. We have to balance it," commission
member Dahlan Thaib told a plenary meeting.

The larger the DPD, the stronger its bargaining power in
legislation and supervision duties.

"The configuration of DPD members will reflect the sovereignty
of the people," he said.

This would, of course, increase the number of the People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR) legislators from the current 700 to
about 996.

The amended Constitution stipulates that the total number of
DPD members must not exceed one-third of the number of the House.
It suggests that each province be represented by four people.

The General Elections Commission is likely to increase the
number of House legislators to 550 in the 2004 polls from 500 in
the previous election in 1999.

In line with the Constitution, there should be 128 DPD members
elected in 2004 at the most.

DPD only has legislative powers regarding regional autonomy.

It is feared that increasing the number of DPD members would
justify the House ignoring the aspirations of the people.

Commission deputy chairman Albert Hasibuan acknowledged that
the imbalance between the House and the Council had created
problems.

He said the Constitutional Commission had intended to empower
the DPD. "We will push for the creation of a true bicameral
system," he added.

With the existence of a powerful House and DPD, the People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR) would no longer be a permanent body,
but simply a joint session.

Albert said the Assembly's functions and tasks could be
carried out by other institutions.

Article 3 of the amended Constitution says the tasks of the
Assembly are making constitutional amendments, inaugurating
presidents and vice presidents, and impeachment when required.

Constitutional amendments, for example, can be carried out by
a constitutional commission preceded by a national referendum.
The Supreme Court can inaugurate presidents and vice presidents
while impeachments can be heard by the Constitutional Court,
whose ruling would be final and binding.

Meanwhile, DPD deputy chairman Ishak Latuconsina said the
commission members were still debating their method of work.

Some commission members proposed that the commission assess
the amended Constitution article by article, while others
demanded an assessment per subject.