House OKs power bill despite poor attendance

House OKs power bill despite poor attendance

A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Despite frequent public criticism for often being absent
during House of Representatives key meetings, lawmakers still
disregard complaints.

This negligence almost caused another unnecessary delay in the
approval of the long-awaited electricity bill during a plenary
session on Wednesday because many of the lawmakers left the
session early.

The approval of the bill is a crucial step to lure more
investment into the country's power sector and avoid power
shortages in the future.

Some 264 legislators initially turned up at the session,
chaired by House Deputy Speaker A.M. Fatwa from the Reform
Faction.

Nine factions of the House took turns to deliver their final
say on the proposed power bill.

While almost all factions gave their approval, certain
outspoken lawmakers expressed strong objections to the bill.
Some individuals from the Ummat Sovereignty Faction argued that
the bill would be harmful to the public because it liberalizes
the power sector.

Three members from Golkar Faction also walked out of the
session, namely Haryadi Achmad, Sarwoko and Husni Thamrin.

Triggered by such moves, debate over the benefit of the power
bill to the people intensified.

The situation changed when the lawmakers were about to make a
decision. They suddenly realized that they did not have a quorum
as only some 102 members were left, while the session needed the
presence of 132 legislators for a quorum.

"Some Golkar members were absent as they were attending Akbar
Tandjung's trial as a show of support," Husni Thamrin, a
legislator from Golkar Party, said.

The situation prompted some lawmakers to call for another
delay in the approval of the bill.

However, after more than half an hour break, 157 House members
turned up at the crucial time to vote in the session.

According to Fatwa, some lawmakers were called by fellow
legislators to go back to the session during the break.

Legislators have a bad habit here of only showing up at the
beginning of House meetings.

The electricity bill was finally approved by the House at 3
p.m. with acclamation.