DPD member complains of limited power
DPD member complains of limited power
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A Regional Representatives Council (DPD) member from Jakarta
complained on Monday he and three other DPD members had little
power to exert change in the capital despite the fact they had
been directly elected by the city's residents.
"We have met with five city mayors to discuss lingering issues
including flooding, waste and toll road problems. Unfortunately,
we have made no significant changes mainly due to the lack of
power we have," DPD member Marwan Batubara said during a seminar
organized by the University of Indonesia's School of Law.
Marwan, who says he has visited with residents in Penjaringan
in North Jakarta, Cakung in East Jakarta, and Pancoran and
Pesanggrahan in South Jakarta to discuss their needs and wishes,
said the DPD had so little authority "it is up to the city
administration whether or not to take our considerations
seriously".
He also said DPD members themselves had such divergent stances
on some issues that it was almost impossible to reach a
consensus.
He cited a recent proposal floated by two of the city's four
DPD members for the establishment of representative councils at
the municipal and regency levels.
"Two other DPD members opposed the idea on the grounds that it
would force the city administration to dig deeper into the
coffers amid glaring human resources and financial constraints,"
he said.
Jakarta, a city of some nine million people, has five
mayoralties and one regency.
Besides Marwan, the three other Jakarta DPD members are
Sarwono Kusumaatmaja, Mooryati Soedibyo and Biem Triani Benyamin.
Legal expert Sri Soemantri, who is also a professor at the
University of Indonesia's School of Law, agreed with Marwan.
"Although the DPD members have strong support because they
were directly elected by residents, compared to members of the
House of Representatives or City Council, they have limited power
under prevailing regulations," Soemantri said.
According to the Constitution, the DPD's role is limited to
offering suggestions during the deliberation of bills dealing
with regional administrations. Some DPD members have sought to
amend the Constitution to give DPD members a greater say in the
deliberation of bills.
"Instead of seeking to amend the Constitution, which would
surely be opposed by the House, it would be better for the DPD to
look for alternatives, for instance, drafting internal guidelines
that give members more leeway to play a greater role for the
public," he said.
Bivitri Susanti from the Center for Law and Policy Studies
agreed with Soematri, saying the DPD should seek alternatives to
upgrade its role instead of focusing on efforts to win greater
authority by amending the Constitution.
"The DPD could learn from the U.S. Senate, whose well-managed
supporting resources manage to maintain intensive contact with
their constituents and respective administrations," Bivitri said.