DPR applies new code of ethics

JAKARTA: A team of the House of Representatives (DPR) in charge of deliberating the House code of ethics announced on Tuesday a plan to socialize the new code of ethics among legislators so as to help improve their performance.

Handjojo Putra, chairman of the team, expressed disappointment over the poor performance of the legislators despite the endorsement of the new code.

Several legislators only signed in at the front desk without taking part in any of House sessions. "Based on the new code, legislators who are absent from deliberation for three sessions can be declared as violating the code of ethics," he said on Tuesday.

Legislators that rarely take part in House deliberations are, among others, Taufik Kiemas, husband of President Megawati Soekarnoputri, Nurdin Halid, and Guruh Soekarnoputra.

However, the lazy legislators frequently receive only warnings instead of coercive punishment. --JP