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