Deliberation of bills at hotels under fire

Deliberation of bills at hotels under fire

JAKARTA (JP): The deliberation of bills at hotels came under
fire yesterday, with two House of Representatives legislators
demanding an end to such practices.

Oka Mahendra of the Golkar faction and Hamzah Haz of the
United Development Party (PPP) expressed worries that the House's
reputation might be weakened if it continued to accept the
government's invitation to deliberate at plush hotels.

"We must stop this practice to avoid public impressions that
the House falls prey to the government's influence and loses its
independence," Oka said.

Hamzah said deliberations at hotels exposed the House's lack
of financial autonomy.

"The House falls short of funds to provide not only facilities
needed for nonstop deliberation with the government, but also for
supporting elements such as expert staff," he said.

A meeting between House Commission II for home affairs and top
officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs at the five-star Grand
Melia Hotel in the Kuningan business area, South Jakarta,
yesterday triggered fresh controversy on the practice.

The meeting was held to discuss a bill that would give
mayoralty status to Tarakan township in East Kalimantan. The bill
was submitted to the House last Monday and is scheduled to be
approved on Tuesday next week.

Deliberating bills at hotels has become a trend over the past
five years. It is usually done during the final phase of a bill
when House legislators are about to finish deliberations. The
government pays for accommodation expenses.

Two controversial bills were also recently deliberated in
rather plush surroundings recently.

A House special committee deliberating the newly approved
manpower bill attended a one-week, closed and informal meeting
with the government at the Horison Hotel in Ancol, North Jakarta,
in June despite the fact that the House was in recess.

House legislators deliberating amendments to the broadcasting
bill also spent a few days at the Kartika Chandra Hotel before
agreeing to the final draft of the bill on Thursday.

Despite criticism, House internal rules do allow for
deliberations to take place outside the House building with the
consent of the House speaker.

Hamzah, also chairman of PPP faction at the House, said the
reason why such deliberations were allowed to take place was
because of efficiency.

"Staying at a hotel makes legislators feel comfortable
working. We cannot delay the passage of bills," he said.

Both Oka and Hamzah both said that the next House should be
appropriated more funds from the state budget to provide
facilities needed for intensive bill deliberation.

Hamzah said it would save time and money if the government
planned a better legislation program. "The House would avoid
rushed and last minute bills," he said.

By the end of its five-year term on Sept. 30, the current
House will have passed 73 bills, with one-third of them
deliberated in the past 12 months. (amd)