Govt to submit political bills to House this week

JAKARTA (JP): The government is to submit three draft political laws, including the bill on general elections, to the House of Representatives (DPR) this week -- one month later than its original schedule, a minister disclosed on Monday.

Minister/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung denied the government had intentionally delayed the presentation of the bills for its own vested interests. He said the delay was merely caused by technical glitches.

"The government has from the beginning been committed to implementing the agreement reached between the government and the House (to produce the political laws)," Akbar said after meeting with President B.J. Habibie at the Bina Graha presidential office. The other two drafts are on the function and composition of the House, the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) and regional legislative councils (DPRD); and on political parties.

In a meeting with the country's chief editors in June, Habibie said the drafting of the bills, coordinated by the Ministry of Home Affairs, would be completed in August.

He also promised to widely distribute the drafts to the public before submitting them to the House, saying the government would also give the public one month to raise objections or make suggestions. Akbar, who is also the chairman of the dominant Golkar party, however, indicated the government would now submit the bills straight to the House.

"People can convey their aspirations through the factions during the official deliberation process," said Akbar.

He added the electoral system will be a proportional district system, and the DPR will comprise 550 members, or up 50 from the current House. Under the new legislation, 210 of the seats will be elected from districts in Java and Bali, and another 210 from outside the two above islands.

The Armed Forces (ABRI) will be allocated 55 seats, down from its current number of 75. Active ABRI members do not vote.

"The remaining 75 will be allotted (to community groups) on a proportional basis," Akbar said.

A Ministry of Home Affairs official recently said the People's Consultative Assembly would have 700 seats -- the 550 DPR members, 81 representatives from the regions, with each of the 27 provinces having three representatives; and 69 group representatives.

In previous elections, civil servants and family members of ABRI were obligated to vote for Golkar. Next year, they will be free to vote as they wish. About 80 new political parties have already been formed since former president Suharto resigned.

Minister of Education and Culture Juwono Sudarsono said civil servants, including university professors and lecturers, under his ministry were free to vote for any party. However according to the government employee regulations, they should temporarily resign from their posts if they joined a political party's executive board, Juwono said in a hearing with Commission VII which oversees education, religious affairs, health and sports.

"If they're only supporting the parties, of course, they do not have to quit," he said, adding that university lecturers should not mix teaching with political activities.

"However, they can resume teaching after they leave the political arena," he said. The regulation will be strictly enforced in January next year after the government's announcement on the names of the election's contestants, Juwono said. (prb/01)