House to amend 1999 Political Laws: Akbar

JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives will revise the 1999 Political Laws following the controversy over the General Elections Commission and the planned local elections in newly- established regencies.

House Speaker Akbar Tandjung said on Wednesday the law on general elections will be revised to accommodate aspirations that the election be held by a commission whose members are independent professionals.

"The House has long had an idea to revise the law and replace staff employed in the election commission with independent professionals. This is important to ensure the fairness of the next general election," he said.

Rudini, chairman of the election commission, said on Monday the election body should be dissolved after the June 10 local elections in 34 regencies and three provinces to allow the President to establish an independent election committee.

The commission has been bombarded with fierce criticism over some of its members' refusal to accept the June 7 general election results.

The commission is comprised mostly of representatives of parties which contested the election. Out of 55 members, 48 are representatives of political parties.

According to the law, the election commission's term of office will end one year before the 2004 general election.

Akbar also said the House will revise the law on the composition of the House which stipulates the number its members at 500, and thus affects the composition of the People's Consultative Assembly.

"The law must be revised because we will provide 34 additional seats for representatives of 34 (new) regencies where the local elections will be held," he said.

The General Election Law states regencies should have at least one representative at the House. Akbar said the House will have to have 534 members if it wishes to remain consistent with the law. (rms)