Experts call for power balance between DPD, DPR
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Constitutional experts criticized the limited power given to the Regional Representatives Council (DPD), saying it will only confuse the main purpose of the bicameral system.
They said the absence of a balance of power between the House of Representatives (DPR) and the DPD reflected the country's half-hearted support for the bicameral system.
"The DPD has been relegated to a weaker position than the DPR or simply as an auxiliary body to the DPR. DPD is totally unfit to represent the country's regions," Mukthie Fadjar of the Brawijaya University (Unibraw) told a discussion here on Tuesday.
Fellow expert Solly Lubis from North Sumatra University (USU) added that the bicameral system newly adopted by Indonesia breached the common practice applied in countries where both bodies, DPR and DPD, share equal power.
"DPD looks like another Regional Representatives Faction at MPR (the People's Consultative Assembly)," Solly said, referring to the faction at MPR whose members were elected by provincial legislatures.
Both experts called on legislators and politicians to review the status of the DPD and urged the endorsement of a law that empowers the council.
Mukthie and Solly were commenting on articles in the amended 1945 Constitution and the bill on the composition of the legislative bodies.
Articles in those legislations stipulate that members of the DPD must not exceed one-third of the House members. On the bill of the composition of the legislature, members of the House will be raised to 550.
Some legislators propose that each of 31 provinces be represented by four people in the DPD, with the total number of DPD members reaching 124 people.
In terms of political power, DPD members will be defeated anytime a motion is voted on.
DPD will have authority in legislation, budget discussion, supervision of government policies and an advisory role in bill deliberation by the DPR.
Despite the legislative power, DPD's role is limited to the discussion of bills relating to regional autonomy and regional resources management.
Meanwhile Sri Soemantri Martosoewignjo from Padjadjaran University said he hoped the formation of DPD would not affect national integrity.
Soemantri, who is a professor in constitutional law, suggested that DPD articulate the aspirations of regions without threatening the unitary state of Indonesia.
The bill on the composition of the legislative bodies, which also regulates the existence of the DPD, has been submitted to the House, but legislators have not began deliberation on it.
The bill, along with bills on elections, political parties, and presidential elections, is a crucial legislation for the upcoming elections in 2004.