Government objects to contents of Cabinet, advisory bills

Kurniawan Hari Jakarta

The government considers the contents of the Cabinet ministry and the presidential advisory council bills prepared by the House of Representatives detrimental to the discretionary power of the president.

The objection was raised on Tuesday during a meeting between House leaders and the government who were represented by Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno, State Minister of Administrative Reforms Feisal Tamin, and State Secretary Bambang Kesowo.

While neither House Speaker Akbar Tandjung nor the ministers disclosed details of the discussion, chairman of the House Legislation Body Zein Badjeber said the ministers expressed disagreement with the contents of the two bills, which they said would limit the discretionary powers of the president.

Quoting the ministers, Zein said the Cabinet ministry bill did not give enough room for the president to form his or her own Cabinet.

The Cabinet ministry bill proposes 31 ministries, 21 of which would have supporting offices in the regions (known as portfolio ministries).

"The government says that the Cabinet ministry bill restricts the discretionary power of the president in forming the Cabinet. It gives the president no choice," he said.

Zein said the government had suggested that the Cabinet ministry bill only determine six mandatory ministries: the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Ministry of Justice.

Regarding the presidential advisory council bill, the government disagreed with an article that may be exploited to impeach the president.

The article states that the president must pay serious attention to the advice of the council.

"What if the president does not heed the advice? The government fears this could be construed as a violation and be exploited to impeach the president," Zein added.

Zein joined deputy speakers Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno, A.M. Fatwa and Muhaimin Iskandar in accompanying Akbar during the closed-door meeting.

During a joint press conference that followed the meeting, Akbar promised he would discuss the government's concern with leaders of the House factions.

Hari, however, refused to elaborate on the government's stance concerning the two bills, which are ready for deliberation despite the recess.

"We are here to present our views regarding the contents of the bills on Cabinet ministry and presidential advisory council," Hari said.

Akbar said the three ministers provided inputs to enrich the two bills from the constitutional and political point of view.

Commenting on the concern, Akbar said that the House leaders were not in a position to respond to the issue. He said he would summon the leaders of House factions to discuss the issue.

"We ask the government to articulate its concern and discuss it with the legislators," he said.

Akbar said President Megawati Soekarnoputri had not assigned ministers to represent the government in the deliberation of the bills.