House serious about drafting laws: Legislator

JAKARTA (JP): Legislator contended that the House of Representatives has never neglected its main legislative duties, but admitted that there are many things hampering it from achieving optimum results.

House legislative body chairman Zain Badjeber said on Thursday that the House has set a target whereby, from now until 2004, it would complete the deliberation of some 240 laws, starting with the most crucial items such as political laws.

"From now until 2004 we will process some 240 drafts, while this year we are set to pass some 64 laws in accordance with the priorities that we have made," Zain said.

"We can even add some 20 percent to 30 percent in extra drafts, as some of the regulations planned for the years 2002 and 2003 will be discussed this year to accommodate the people's aspirations," he claimed.

The senior legislator from the United development Party (PPP) was responding to President Abdurrahman Wahid's nationally televised address which criticized the House for concentrating too heavily on control duties and neglecting their law-making obligations.

Zain's forecast of increased productivity is in stark contrast to the House's performance over the last four months, during which time legislators have only managed to pass less than 10 laws.

Highlighting the issue, in the opening of the House sitting session last week, House Speaker Akbar Tandjung reminded the legislators of their duties, noting that the country awaits the processing of many bills.

Zain argued that there are many problems hampering the law- making process, such as the lengthy four-stage discussion procedure between the government and the House for each draft.

"We will amend the current internal regulations so that each draft will only be discussed twice. So, you see we are serious about it," he remarked.

Another issue cited was the regulation that obligates the presence of respective ministers in each discussion, while in reality the ministers can not always attend the sessions.

"So, we are suggesting that maybe a minister be permitted to appoint one of their director generals to attend the hearing on their behalf," Zain added. (dja)