Govt slows ombudsman bill debate

JAKARTA: The National Ombudsman Commission has demanded that President Megawati Soekarnoputri appoint a minister who will represent the government in the deliberation of a bill to empower the commission.

The bill is at the House of Representatives, but its deliberation has been delayed due to the absence of a government representative.

The ombudsman commission was established under a presidential decree in 2000.

"The endorsement of the ombudsman law will help the commission to improve its performance and form chapters in regional areas," Ombudsman chairman Antonius Sujata told a hearing with House's Commission II for legal and home affairs here on Tuesday.

The ombudsman was set up to help promote good governance.

Of 216 recommendations proposed by the ombudsman to government offices so far, 113 have been heeded. - JP