House members' morality

House members' morality

Members of the House of Representatives (DPR) hold the
strongest political position in the country. A president has been
dismissed by the House, but we have never heard of the dismissal
of a House member for breaking the law. This has never happened
in the history of our legislature.

During President Soeharto's tenure there was a recall
mechanism. A House member could be recalled by his or her party
for violating party' policy.

Now that the recall mechanism does not exist, the DPR has
become such a strong institution it is called a super body. As a
legislative institution the House has the authority to control
the government.

The problem now is how clean the House members are. Their
morality is in question. The latest reports on (alleged) bribery
of House members by the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency
(BPPN) could be cited as an example.

There has been an indication that the case will be shelved.
Tjahjo Kumolo of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) has said that the party would not investigate the
bribery allegation.

It's time for the House to establish a strong internal control
body. The body must have the courage to investigate alleged
malfeasance by House members. And law enforcers must also be
granted the authority to investigate cases of graft.

-- Koran Tempo, Jakarta