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.