DPD wants delay in law revision
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.