House of Representatives divides deputies' tasks
JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives (DPR) on Friday got down to work dividing supervision responsibilities for the legislative bodies' five deputy speakers.
The division of responsibility is aimed at enhancing the work of the House in tackling the national issues which will arise during its coming five-year tenure.
Newly elected House Speaker Akbar Tandjung said he and his deputies have agreed to hold consultations every second Tuesday.
"We may also meet once a week if it is found to be necessary," he said.
A.M. Fatwa of the Reform faction will supervise industrial and development issues which will be under the ward of the House's Commission IV for Transportation and Infrastructure, Commission V for Industry and Trade and Commission VIII for Mining and Energy.
Hamzah Haz of the United Development Party (PPP) faction will oversee economics issues which come under the House's Commission III for Agriculture and Food and Commission IX for Finance and Development Planning. He will also oversee budget issues.
Khofifah Indar Parawansa of the National Awakening Party (PKB) faction will supervise welfare issues which will come under the House's Commission VI for Religion and Human Resources and Commission VII on Population and Welfare.
Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) faction will oversee political issues which will come under the House's Commission I for Defense, Security and Foreign Affairs and Commission II for Law and Home Affairs. He will also supervise legislative issues and the Interparliament Cooperation Body (BKSAP).
To further boost legislators proficiency, House factions will also officially get their own expert staff.
Four experts will be allotted each to the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle faction and the Golkar Party faction, three each for the United Development Party faction, the National Awakening Party faction and the Reform faction.
The Indonesian Military/National Police faction will get two experts while the remaining four factions will get one each.
Akbar also said that the House, despite having to tackle major issues in the coming fortnight, would still send a delegation to attend the International Parliament Union (IPU) sessions in Berlin on Sunday.
He argued that the meeting would include important agendas pertaining to Indonesia, such as the East Timor issue.
"We will deliver a response concerning the subject delivered by Portugal on the situation in East Timor," Akbar said.
He added that the current House would also make preparations to host the IPU session in 2000.
He added that the House also supports the nomination of Fatih Sarant of Egypt as Secretary General of the Islamic Parliament Organization.
Akbar further revealed that two additional legislators would be installed in the near future.
The two -- Probosutedjo of the Indonesian National Party Marhaenism Front (PNI FM) and Marcus Mali of the Catholic Democratic Party (PKD) -- failed to win seats in their respective provinces.
However, finally the General Elections Commission (KPU) gave allowances for parties with only one seat to have their chairpersons as the sole representatives if they chose. (05)