House to amend 1999 Political Laws: Akbar

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)