'Hooky' lawmakers may be named and shamed: House

'Hooky' lawmakers may be named and shamed: House

Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta

A senior leader of the House of Representatives (DPR) has urged
House members to improve their attendance record before the
current sitting ends in September or else face moral punishment
from the people.

"All House members are morally accountable for the performance
of their official duties," House deputy speaker Tosari Widjaja
said before attending a consultative meeting with leaders of the
nine House factions here on Friday.

Tosari also called on the political parties to discipline
their legislators in the House.

The meeting was supposed to be attended by the leaders of the
nine factions, but in the end only faction members turned up.

The attendance of legislators has worsened in recent days. On
Thursday, poor attendance was blamed for the failure of the House
steering committee to reach a quorum.

It was the 16th meeting the House has had to delay due to poor
attendance. Up for discussion were more than 40 bills that need
to be finished within the next three months.

Separately, House Speaker and Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung
summoned a number of Golkar chairmen of House committees charged
with the deliberation of various bills.

The legislators were Agun Gunandjar Sudarsa (the revision of
local government law amendment bill), Akil Mochtar (the truth and
reconciliation commission bill), Ferry Mursyidan Baldan (the
ministerial offices bill), and Yahya Zaini (the presidential
advisory council bill).

Golkar faction chairman M. Hatta also attended the meeting.

Agun Gunandjar said that Golkar legislators were concerned
about poor attendance in the House, and vowed that they would do
their utmost to improve the House's performance, particularly as
regards its legislation record.

"We have to improve the House's performance as it will affect
the image of the House, which, coincidentally, is headed by
Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung," he said.

Akil Mochtar added that legislators had to focus on performing
their official duties, including framing the budget together with
the government, overseeing the administration of government, and
deliberating draft legislation.

In addition, Tosari, of the United Development Party (PPP),
promised that House leaders would publish the attendance records
of legislators in an attempt to encourage the leaders of the nine
factions to uphold discipline among their members.

Tosari added that he would seek support from the other
factions for the publication of attendance records.