House increases number of commissions to 11

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The House of Representatives has agreed to raise the number of its commissions from nine to 11, following the increase in the number of legislators.

The agreement, which legislators believe will lighten their workloads on the commissions, was reached during a meeting between House leaders and faction chairs on Thursday.

However, the decision must still be brought to a plenary meeting of the House next week for approval. No specific date has been set for the meeting.

"Each commission's workload will be lightened. With the number of the House members now reaching 550, each commission will consist of between 49 and 50 legislators," House Speaker Agung Laksono said after the meeting.

The previous House consisted of 500 legislators.

The creation of two more commissions, their secretariats and staff members will also mean additional costs.

Legislator Djoko Susilo, who was a member of the House's budget committee from 1999 to 2004, said each commission would spend about Rp 30 million per month.

The agreement on the number of commissions was reached just one day before legislators convene to discuss the resignation of Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto and the appointment of Army chief Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu as the acting TNI chief.

The appointment of the TNI chief must be approved by the House and will first be discussed in commission.

As the number of House commissions has not yet been formally endorsed, several lawmakers suggested on Thursday the House would likely set up a special committee to discuss the transfer of leadership from Endriartono to Ryamizard.

Agung said it had been agreed to transfer oversight of security affairs from House Commission I to Commission III.

The issues of justice, human right and legislation will be moved from House Commission II to Commission III.

According to Agung, the agreement reached by the House leaders would be brought to a plenary meeting next week for approval.

He added that the selection of the commission chairs would be organized by each commission.

The National Mandate Party (PAN) opposed the plan to increase the number of House commissions, saying it would only increase state expenditures.

"After discussion, we agreed to increase the number of House commissions to 11," said Agung of the Golkar Party.

Commission Field of Work

I Defense, Foreign and Information Affairs

II Home Affairs, Regional Autonomy, State Apparatus,

Agrarian Affairs

III Law and Legislation, Human Rights, Security Affairs

IV Agriculture, Plantations, Forestry, Marine,

Fisheries and Food Affairs

V Transportation, Telecommunications, Public Works,

Housing, Development of Rural and Isolated Areas

VI Trade, Industry, Investment, Cooperatives, Small-

Medium Enterprises, State Enterprises

VII Energy, Mineral Resource, Research, Technology,

Environment

VIII Religious Affairs, Social Affairs, Women's

Empowerment

IX Population, Health, Manpower, Transmigration

X Education, Youth, Sports, Tourism, Art, Culture

XI Finance, National Development Planning, Banking,

Non-Bank Financial Institutions

Source: House Secretariat