House of Representatives gets into gear with spurt of hearings
House of Representatives gets into gear with spurt of hearings
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Commissions of the House of Representatives held their first
hearings on Wednesday -- nearly a month after it went into
session -- seeming to indicate that the House had eased out of
the rivalrous deadlock that left it virtually paralyzed.
Commission I for defense, information, foreign and political
affairs held a hearing with State Minister of Communications and
Information Sofyan Djalil, while Commission VIII for
environmental, science and technology affairs had a hearing with
energy minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro.
Members of both the Nationhood Coalition and the People's
Coalition, along with those of the National Awakening Party
(PKB), were present at the hearings.
At the communications hearing, however, the People's Coalition
continued to exchange barbs with the Nationhood Coalition over
the commission's leadership post.
Dedy Djamaluddin Malik of the National Mandate Party (PAN)
faction, for example, reminded Commission I chairman Theo L.
Sambuaga of Golkar of his place: "Please remember that you are
not the definitive commission leader. So, it will be better for
us to discuss this matter soon."
Effendi Simbolon of the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI-P) reacted immediately to Dedy's statement and
stressed that the chairmanship had been finalized.
"Our thanks go to the definitive commission leaders," he said
before raising a question to the minister.
Despite the underhanded remarks, the hearing proceeded
smoothly -- as did the energy hearing, without a whisper of an
insult among those legislators present -- in stark contrast to
Tuesday's plenary meeting, which was marked by interruptions and
heckling from both camps.
Aside from PAN, the pro-government People's Coalition comprise
the United Development Party (PPP), the Democratic Party, the
Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and several minor parties.
The rival Nationhood Coalition consists of Golkar, PDI-P, the
Reform Star Party (PBR) and the Prosperous Peace Party (PDS),
along with support from the PKB.
The chairmanship posts of all House commissions and auxiliary
bodies are held by the Nationhood Coalition and the PKB, pending
an amendment to the House's standing orders.
Commission X for education and youth affairs also held a
hearing on Wednesday, discussing education and spiritual
development with noted cleric Abdullah Gymnastiar of the Daarut
Tauhid Islamic boarding school, while members of the House
Legislation Body (Baleg) began evaluating legislative records of
the previous House.
Separately, House Speaker Agung Laksono made a statement of
appreciation for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who had
instructed his ministers to accept invitations to House hearings.
Agung said the instruction clearly showed the President's good
will toward building a positive relationship with the House.