House should 'scrutinize' candidates for keys posts
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)