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.