DPD wants delay in law revision

A. Junaidi, Jakarta

Newly elected members of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) demanded on Tuesday that the revision of Law No. 22/1999 on regional autonomy be delayed until they were sworn into office.

"We demand the government and the House of Representatives to postpone the revision of the law until the DPD and new members of the House are inaugurated," DPD member La Ode Ida of South Sulawesi told reporters on Tuesday after a meeting with the House.

The members-elect of the House and regional council are to be sworn into office in September.

According to the revised 1945 Constitution, any revisions of laws concerning regional governments should involve DPD members.

The council members also demanded on Tuesday that an amendment to Law No. 25/1999 on fiscal balance between the central and regional governments be postponed as well.

"If the government and the House continue to revise the laws, we will revise them again later," La Ode said.

Agun Gunandjar Sudarsa, deputy chairman of the House's special committee in charge of the revisions and Golkar member, told DPD members that the House and the government would continue with the revisions, "especially the law on regional autonomy to allow direct elections for regional leaders," Agun told reporters.

Currently, governors, regents and mayors are elected by local legislative members and are approved by either the president or the home minister.

Agun said the revision was needed to prevent a vacuum of power in regional governments, as the terms of many governors, regents and mayors had ended.

Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno concurred with Agun, saying the government was working with the House in reviewing the laws.

"The sooner the revision, the better," Hari said.

The House said earlier the revision would focus on allowing for direct elections of regional leaders, in line with the spirit of the direct presidential election.

However, the government has asked that the revisions be more comprehensive.

The laws have caused confusion about the distribution of power between the central and regional governments, with the former accusing the latter of abusing their new powers.

The House has also ordered amendments to hundreds of bylaws that conflicted with national laws.

The Association of Provincial Councils had earlier asked the government and the House to postpone the revisions, saying the move contradicted the spirit of regional autonomy.

Several non-governmental organizations have also urged that the revision should involve the DPD and new House members, due to their qualifications and knowledge in their respective areas.

The government and the House have repeatedly said current laws have contributed to the disharmony between the central government and regional administrations.