House of Representatives divides deputies' tasks
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)