House resumes session, bickering ensues
House resumes session, bickering ensues
M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
After accomplishing almost nothing in its first session, the
House of Representatives got its second session off to a bumpy
start on Monday, indicating that the road ahead may be a troubled
one for the House.
The plenary session to open the second session was barely over
when a verbal scuffle broke out between House Speaker Agung
Laksono and legislators upset by his decision to conclude the
meeting early.
The chaotic scene that transpired was reminiscent of the
prolonged bickering by the House over the mechanisms to elect the
chairs of the House's commissions and five auxiliary bodies.
Agung banged his gavel to end Monday's session amid an uproar
of interruptions from House members who wished to air their
concerns over the government's lackluster performance in dealing
with the aftermath of the tsunami in Aceh.
"The plenary session is adjourned because all of the issues
were addressed in the opening speech I just delivered, including
our remarks on the Aceh disaster. The draft of the speech has
been approved by all factions in the House," Agung told the
plenary session.
He then quickly stepped down from the podium, leaving behind
miffed House members who swiftly denounced his decision. On the
issue of disaster relief efforts in Aceh, House has decided to
summon President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono next week.
"Pak Agung should have honored our constitutional right of
free speech," said lawmaker Patrialis Akbar of the National
Mandate Party (PAN) faction.
He said he was disappointed with Agung, a sentiment he shared
with his colleagues from PAN.
"We will hold an internal meeting to decide our stance on Pak
Agung's poor leadership," he said after the plenary session.
The meeting could be used to gather momentum for bringing a
no-confidence motion against the House speaker, Patrialis added.
The session on Monday was Agung's first appearance at a House
plenary meeting since being elected deputy leader of Golkar
Party, which Vice President Jusuf Kalla heads. Kalla defeated
incumbent Akbar Tandjung to assume leadership of Golkar at a
party congress last month.
Suryama M. Sastra of the Justice Prosperous Party (PKS)
faction said it was not the first time Agung ignored the wishes
of House members.
"The House honor council should look into his unethical
conduct in disregarding our aspirations," he said.
Earlier in his opening speech, Agung said the House would
remain critical of all government policies, despite his close
ties with Kalla.
"This stance as a critic is part of the House's commitment to
help create good and respectable governance," he said.
Kalla's rise to Golkar leader, with Agung as his deputy, has
raised concern the House would again be turned into a rubber
stamp for all government policies, like it was during the 32
years of former president Soeharto's autocratic rule.
"A system of checks and balances is enshrined in the
Constitution and there should be no doubt that the House will
uphold this," Agung said.