House should learn from criticisms

House should learn from criticisms

JAKARTA (JP): Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR)
Wahono appealed to members yesterday to carry out self-examination
in the face of mounting criticisms about its role in Indonesia's
democracy.

During a plenary session, Wahono reminded the 500-member
institution that the House has been widely criticized in the past
concerning its effectiveness in representing the people's
interests.

"We should accept all criticisms, suggestions and aspirations
of the people sent to the House with a clear mind and open arms
so that we can really see our own shortcomings and then strive to
make amends," he said in a speech marking the 49th anniversary of
the House and of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) which
he also chairs.

The House has often been portrayed as of being merely a
government's rubber-stamp agency, specially given that it has
never initiated its own legislation. All the laws have been
drafted by the government and virtually all were passed by the
House with little change, although one or two were subjected to
stiff debate.

Wahono however defended the House's record, at least since he
has been at the helm since 1992.

"The House has tried its best to accommodate and channel the
people's wishes," he said.

As examples of the House's recent successes, he cited the
abolition of the state lottery SDSB last November and the first
public disclosure of the Rp 1.3 trillion ($620 million) loan
scandal at Bapindo, a government bank, early this year.

He also said that the rising number of people who are turning
to the DPR to air their complaints and grievances reflect the
increasing confidence they put in the institution.

He said DPR could only channel the people's aspirations and
that a lot depends on how the executive branch responds.
"However, the House is truly committed to accommodating the
people's wishes because that is its constitutional task and
function."

Its chief task is to exercise political control over the
government's activity, and in this regard, it is the duty of the
House's commissions to scrutinize the government's agencies and
officials, he said.

Wahono also welcomes the proposal from the Supreme Audit
Agency (Bepeka) to present the report of its findings to the
House on a semester basis instead of yearly, which he said will
further facilitate the DPR's supervision task.

"This is a major improvement because the House will now be
able to obtain data and information earlier," he said.

DPR/MPR Secretary General Afif Ma'roef meanwhile in a speech
before the staff of the House's Secretariat said yesterday that
the public is demanding a more effective role of both houses.

"Both MPR and DPR have made improvements but there is still
criticism and we have to accept these to develop ourselves," Afif
said. (emb)

Editorial -- Page 4