House endorses bill on general elections
JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives endorsed on Monday the general election bill, which will become the basis of establishing a new, "independent" general election commission (KPU).
In a plenary session presided over by House Deputy Speaker Soetardjo Soerjoguritno, all the House's 10 factions, except the Crescent Star Party (PBB) faction, agreed on the bill.
"The bill was agreed to by all the factions, with the exception of the PBB, which still did not approve it," Soetardjo said before knocking his gavel.
He questioned why the PBB had changed its stand on the bill, since it had earlier expressed approval for the bill in the House's Commission for legal domestic affairs.
The bill states the new general election commission will consist of 11 members, compared to the current commission which has 48 political party representatives and five government representatives.
The bill requires that the 11 members be independent, nonpartisan and free of influence from certain people, groups or political parties.
PBB's faction spokesman Darmansyah said on Monday that his faction disagreed with the requirement that commission members be nonpartial.
"In the United States, members of political parties can be members of its general election commission, as long as the people are credible with good reputations," Darmansyah said.
The passing of the bill effectively closes any hope for the continued existence of the current commission, which presided over last year's general election.
KPU's acting chairman Agus Miftach rejected the bill endorsed by the House, saying it was illegal because its formulation did not involve the current commission.
"The current KPU is the one which has a right to propose the bill," Agus said.
He said the KPU would react strongly if the bill, which will revise the current Law No. 3/1999 on general elections, was approved by the President.
Agus did not elaborate on what kind of action the KPU would take.
Minister of Home Affairs Surjadi Soedirdja said if the President approved the bill the current KPU would automatically be replaced by the new one.
"The current KPU cannot reject a law," Surjadi said after the session.
Monday's plenary session also agreed to revise laws No. 45 to No. 55/1999 on new regencies, suggesting councils of new regencies should be filled according to the results of last year's general election.
The PBB faction disagreed with these revisions as well, on the grounds that no study had been conducted to prove that the new regencies are not ready for local elections.
PBB only has 13 legislators in the House.
The current election commission, which is dominated by minor political parties, has repeatedly said it would like to conduct separate local elections for new regencies. (jun)