Experts call for equal powers for DPR, DPD
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Although the nation has officially adopted a bicameral parliamentary system, the authority of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) is less powerful than that of the House of Representatives (DPR).
Under the bill on the composition of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), DPR, DPD and the Provincial and Regional Legislative Bodies (DPRD), which the government plans to submit later this month, DPD plays a peripheral role in terms of legislation.
The bill, for example, states that DPD has the right to submit bills to the House, especially those bills related to regional autonomy, relations between the central and regional administrations, establishment of new administrations, natural resource management, and the fiscal balance.
DPD may also submit inputs to DPR regarding the state budget and bills on taxation, education and religion. All inputs should be submitted to DPR before it starts deliberations with government officials.
Under such a hierarchical scheme, DPD's power and authority would be much less than those of DPR.
Constitutional expert Harun Alrasyid on Tuesday called the new system as "uncommon", and urged that it should be revised.
"That (bicameral) system must be revised in the future. It is an abnormal system," Harun told The Jakarta Post here on Tuesday.
A joint session between DPR and DPD would create the MPR which, under the new system, is no longer a permanent body.
The bicameral system, as legislators call it, gives an unequal share of power to DPD and DPR, with DPR claiming a greater role than DPD. Harun said that DPD and DPR must have equal power.
According to Harun, the system revealed that legislators were unwilling to share power with their fellow legislators in DPD, while also indicating that DPR wanted to maintain sole influence over national politics.
Jimly Ashiddiqie, however, defended the system, calling the new system a "soft bicameral system".
"This system is common in unitary states. While many federalistic states adopt the pure bicameral system, unitary states generally take to a soft bicameral system," Jimly told the Post.
Jimly said that although DPD had a weaker role in legislation than DPR, its role in supervising the government would be equal to the DPR.
"DPD has the power to supervise the government in carrying out policies related to regional issues," he added.
He called on the people not to be antipathetic towards the new system, and suggested instead to monitor its application. Meanwhile, he admitted that DPD would be more trustworthy than DPR, because members of the DPD have no affiliation with political parties.
Harun and Jimly agreed that the creation of the new system was based more on political compromises than on an effort to set up a comprehensive system.
The bill was drafted to replace extant Law No.4/1999, which became void and null after the amendment of the 1945 Constitution in August last year.
The draft law defines DPD as a regional representatives council which strives for the aspiration and the interest of regions. The draft also stipulates that the number of DPD members will not exceed one-third the number of DPR members.