House internal rules need changing: Legislators

JAKARTA (JP): Legislators of the United Development Party (PPP) faction submitted to the House of Representatives yesterday a proposal to amend its internal rules.

The legislators, led by chairman of the PPP faction Hamzah Haz, said changes are needed to respond to the growing public demand for democracy and a quality legislative body.

All but two of the faction's 61 members signed the proposal drawn up by a team led by Yudho Paripurno, a legislator who recently turned down his nomination for the legislative 1997-2002 term.

Hamzah told Deputy Speaker of the House Soetedjo that legislators should be able to anticipate and respond promptly to people's aspirations, demands and wishes.

"The rapid development within society requires a mechanism which improves mobility and self-reliance of the House members," Hamzah said, citing financial independence as an example of improved mobility and self-reliance.

He said the House would complete deliberating the proposal before the legislators end their terms next Sept. 30.

The current internal rules, already revised in 1983, have been blamed for discouraging legislators from taking initiatives and reducing their role to a mere rubber stamp of government policies.

According to the rules, legislators need the agreement of at least 20 other legislators from two of the House's four factions before they can submit a House-sponsored bill, ask for the government's clarification of a policy, or raise opinion on a subsequent presidential response to the House's queries.

The proposal says that in order to exercise its rights, the House will require signatures of between 10 and 20 legislators regardless of their factions.

House legislators also have the right to investigate, amend a bill and recommend the government candidates fill certain posts in the state's high-ranking institutions such as the Supreme Court and Supreme Audit Body.

The PPP legislators, who refused to call themselves representatives of the Moslem-oriented party, said that the House's changing roles would require it to draw up and manage its own budget.

At present the government decides the House's annual budget, which is included in the state annual budget.

On the planned state budget announced by the government every January, the PPP legislators urged the House to drop privilege given to deliberations of the state budget's modification.

"All bills, including the modification of the state budget, must be subjected to four-level deliberations before receiving approval from the House," Hamzah said.

Currently, deliberations of state budget adjustment are granted shortcut procedures to enable the House to pass the budget at least one month prior to its application on April 1.

The proposal also suggests that all bill deliberations be open to the public. Only discussion on the House's internal affairs are conducted behind closed doors, the proposal says.

In response to the proposal, Soetedjo asked the PPP legislators to influence members of the House's special deliberation body to endorse the proposal.

Comprising 66 legislators of all the four factions, the special deliberation body will deliver a proposal of changes to internal rules at a plenary session. (amd)