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)