DPD to have four ad hoc committees

DPD to have four ad hoc committees

Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta

The Regional Representatives Council (DPD), whose 128 members
were elected in the 5 April legislative election, will likely be
split into four ad hoc committees on regional autonomy, fiscal
balance, education and the state budget.

People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) member Harun Kamil said
on Monday the Assembly's working body would convene in September
to discuss further the proposal.

"Under discussion will be internal DPD rules and mechanisms.
The talks on internal DPD rules will be a starting point for
creating an effective Assembly," he said in a workshop attended
by elected DPD members here.

Under the proposal, each province will be represented on each
ad hoc committee.

Ad hoc committee I will deal with regional autonomy, relations
between central and regional government and the creation of new
regional administrations.

Committee II will handle issues on economic and natural
resources management, fiscal balance and taxes.

Committee III will focus on education and religious affairs
while committee IV will closely supervise the state budget, its
audit and the recruitment of the State Audit Agency (BPK)
members.

The new council will also set up a disciplinary council to be
tasked with investigating DPD members who fail to carry out their
state duties and allegedly break the law.

According to Harun, the DPD will also have an internal affairs
committee and a budget committee.

Meanwhile, political analyst Daniel Sparringa said the fact
that DPD members were elected directly would help them to gain
more legitimacy in the eyes of the public than members of the
House of Representatives (DPR).

Each province elected four representatives in the DPD. Ballot
counting by the General Elections Commission showed that votes
won by elected DPD members were from far from less than? one-
fourth of the population.

Unlike House members, who are affiliated to political parties,
DPD members are independent figures, although some are former
party leaders or government officials.

Daniel said they would fully represent the aspirations of
people in the regions.

"The fact that DPD members are directly elected and
independent should be a major reason for them to demand greater
authority," Daniel said.

Under Law No. 22/2003 on the composition of legislative
bodies, the DPD will have an opportunity to participate in
deliberations on legislation but will not have voting rights.

"The elected DPD members are all aware of the limited
authority of the DPD. They believe, however, that the new body
will play an important role in further changes in the future,"
Daniel announced on the sidelines of a workshop for DPD members.

Daniel added that members could argue consistently for
revisions to related legislation, to render them as powerful as
House members.

"House members must not ignore DPD demands, otherwise they
will simply undermine their own image," he said.

Theo L. Sambuaga, an Assembly member who drafted the ground
rules for the DPD, suggested that the authority of the DPD be
made clearer.

"Regulations on the role of the DPD in deliberation on bills
and supervision should be spelled out in detail," he said.