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.