House should 'scrutinize' candidates for keys posts
JAKARTA (JP): Political scientist Ryaas Rasyid, a member of a committee reviewing the five political laws which govern the current political system, said the House of Representatives should be given the right to scrutinize candidates chosen by the President to hold prominent positions.
Ryaas, rector of the Institute for Public Administration, told a discussion here Saturday that such a mechanism would help single out the best people for important positions.
"House members should have the right to hold hearings with the candidates," Ryaas said.
Ryaas said that as a member of a special team that was preparing a review of the five political laws, he had proposed the idea to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the House of Representatives.
According to Ryaas, while the President still has the prerogative to choose particular individuals, legislators should be allowed to screen them before they are formally appointed.
Positions which should be screened by the House include ministerial posts, that of chief justice, head of the Supreme Audit Agency and head of the Supreme Advisory Council, Ryaas argued.
Under the current system, the House has little say on who the President appoints to fill the country's most important positions.
Former president Soeharto in March was criticized for being nepotistic when he appointed his daughter Siti Hardijanti Rukmana to the post of minister of social services and golfing buddy Mohammad "Bob" Hasan as minister of industry and trade.
President B.J. Habibie dropped the two from his Reform and Development Cabinet but did retain 20 members from the old Cabinet.
Ryaas also hinted yesterday that among proposals being debated was a requirement that the government must notify the House prior to making any crucial decisions.
"The government, for instance, should consult with members of the House before signing a foreign debt agreement," Ryaas said during a discussion held by the National Council of Islamic Students Alumni (KAHMI).
Ryaas said the new law would enable the House to be more active in initiating its amendment rights.
The government and the House are expected to finish their reviews of the five political laws -- which cover mass organizations, the role and function of the House and the People's Consultative Assembly, political parties and Golkar, and regional administrations and elections -- within a six-month period before the People's Consultative Assembly holds an extraordinary session, which will be a precursor to the promised general election next year.
Earlier during the discussion, former minister of finance Mar'ie Muhammad said the country would be economically unable to get back on its feet unless an atmosphere of political certainty was created.
"We need legitimization of the ruling power and a lessening of political risk, which is very high at the moment," he said.
He pointed out that the current business climate in Indonesia was not conducive since it contained a high degree of political risk. He added that one way to resolve this was to have a definite timetable for elections, and not just mere rhetoric about polls being held as soon as possible.
However, he warned that an effort to create certainty and reduce political risk should not be interpreted as trying to maintain the status quo. (byg/mds)