Sat, 02 Aug 2003

House defends its legislative record

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

In the face of frequent criticism and public distrust, the House of Representatives (DPR) reported some progress it had made over the past year.

Speaking at the Annual Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) on Friday, House Speaker Akbar Tandjung focused on the legislative body's check-and-balance role.

"Besides deliberating and endorsing the annual budget proposed by the executive body, the House has closely supervised the government and its policies to help develop good governance," he said.

Akbar admitted that the House had achieved less in its legislative function, since it failed to reach its target to endorse the more than 100 bills submitted by the government. He downplayed the House's poor legislative performance, saying it had nothing to do with the improvement in the supervisory function.

Out of 68 bills deliberated between August 2002 and July 2003, only 38 were endorsed. Among the 38 were 14 bills on the formation of new regencies, which do not require much energy nor time.

The House has been under fire over its controversial leadership and several endorsed bills that have sparked protests from the public.

Many legislators and political observers have strongly urged Akbar to step down after the Central Jakarta District Court handed down a three-year sentence for his involvement in a Rp 40 billion (US$4.8 million) graft case. The High Court confirmed the verdict, and Akbar is now awaiting a Supreme Court decision on his appeal.

The House has been also criticized for the controversial laws on national education, on presidential election and on composition of the MPR, House, provincial and regental legislatures.

The National Education Law sparked a string of protests from non-Muslim schools, since under the law, they are required to recruit religious teachers to provide classes on all denominations represented by their student bodies, including Muslim teachers to teach Islam to Muslim students.

The Presidential Election Law allows those who have been sentenced to a maximum five years' imprisonment to run for president, meaning a criminal can vie for the presidency. Meanwhile, the law on MPR, DPR and provincial and regental legislatures gives too much power to the House.

In regards on the planned termination of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) program at the end of the year, Akbar said House Commission IX for finance had consulted the executive team as to the exit strategy.

"Further discussion will be made after the government presents the draft state budget to the House in mid-August," he said.