House endorses internal rulings

JAKARTA (JP): The next House of Representatives whose members will be sworn in Oct. 1 will have a code of ethics and an honorary council to investigate all violations committed by House members.

The code of ethics and honorary council were contained in the House's new internal rulings, which was endorsed in a plenary session on Thursday.

"The internal rulings carry a minimum punishment of administrative sanctions and a maximum of a dismissal from the House for legislators who are found guilty of violating the code of ethics," Lt. Gen. Hari Sabarno, the deputy speaker of the outgoing House, said after the plenary session.

He said the specifics of the new code would be drafted by the next House and would remain in effect for the duration that the House convenes.

He also said an honorary council would be set up comprising 10 legislators or more.

"The honorary council will be tasked with investigating violations committed by House members and present recommendations to House leadership on what sanctions should be imposed," he said.

Hari, who was expected to lead the Indonesian Military faction at the next House, said he expects the new legislature to have at least 10 commissions.

The present House has nine commissions.

The new internal rulings stipulate that political parties which have less than 10 representatives in the House may not be allowed to present their opinion during House plenary sessions.

However, there is a clause allowing them to merge and form a joint faction.

The House also endorsed a new law on Wednesday to replace the 1974 Law on Civil Service in an effort to improve the over four- million civil servants' social welfare and productivity.

The new law stipulates that all civil servants, including servicemen in the military and National Police, have a right to fair and adequate payment for their service to the state.

It also recommends the next government issue a regulation which garners a better remuneration system for civil servants in accordance with their rank.

Chozin, spokesman for the ruling Golkar Party faction, said in the plenary session that the next remuneration system for civil servants should be similar to the one implemented in private companies.

"A better remuneration system would prevent corruption among civil servants and help improve their performance and productivity," he said without elaborating on the system.

The new law also recommends the establishment of a commission whose main task is to provide recommendations to the president for a better policy of civil servants' social welfare and productivity. (rms/05)