House to deliberate 22 bills in 3 months
House to deliberate 22 bills in 3 months
JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives opened its 2001
session on Monday with a conviction to focus more on its
legislative duties targeting the deliberation of 22 bills in the
next three months.
"The House is expected to complete 17 bills submitted by the
government and five others it has proposed, during the third
sitting period that ends in April," House Speaker Akbar Tandjung
said during the opening plenary meeting.
"Of the 17 bills submitted by the government, three will have
priority to be completed as soon as possible," he added.
"The three bills concern the central bank, labor protection
and settlement of industrial disputes."
The House has come under strong criticism from observers
claiming that its legislative duties have been bogged down due to
various political crusades against the executive.
In the past 17-months the House has passed 40 laws, with some
80 draft bills still pending.
Among those likely to get critical attention in the next few
months are a bill on the establishment of a Riau Archipelagic
province and another on the presidency.
Scandal
While there was a pronounced commitment to prioritize the
deliberation of pending bills, Akbar nevertheless asserted that
the House would continue its executive control function such as
the probe into the Bulog and Brunei scandals and resolution of
questions about President Abdurrahman Wahid's dismissal of two
economic ministers last year.
"The presence of special committees established by the House
to exercise its right of inquiry remain valid and legal and,
therefore, the House will go ahead with its investigations," he
said.
The House inquiry into the Bulog and Brunei scandals could be
the most imminent cause of tension between the executive and
legislature, as the President has rejected a summons filed by a
House special committee investigating his possible involvement in
the scandals.
Akbar strongly urged Abdurrahman to comply with the
"invitation" saying he could meet with committee members at the
House, the State Palace, or even his residence.
"The House will not force the President to come to the House
chambers. The special committee will agree if the President wants
to give testimony at the State Palace or at his residence. The
important thing is for the President to testify on the scandals,"
he said.
According to Akbar, the President has indicated that he would
be willing to testify either through a written response or by
having the special committee come to the State Palace.
"The House will make its conclusion on the two scandals on
Jan. 23," Akbar reminded.
Another point of controversy likely to arise between the House
and the President in the next few weeks is Abdurrahman's
rejection of the two candidates for supreme court chief proposed
by the House.
Akbar, on Monday, urged his fellow legislators to be more
earnest in holding hearings with the government.
He said the House would pay serious attention to the
appointment of public and state officials to the Supreme Court
and the General Election Commission (KPU).
"The appointment of a supreme justice has been delayed because
of the President's rejection of the two names proposed by the
House," he said.
For the KPU, the House must filter 11 out of 22 candidates
proposed by the government, nongovernmental organizations and
societal organizations.
In his address during the plenary session, Akbar expressed
strong concerns at the poor state of security and order
prevailing in the country.
He lamented that the law, particularly law enforcement, had
lost respect.
The solution, he said, required modifications of the legal
instruments and the procedures of law enforcement officials.
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