House to discuss 22 bills
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
House Speaker Akbar Tandjung, who has been declared a suspect in a corruption case, opened the House of Representatives's first plenary meeting in 2002 on Monday, vowing to pass 22 bills during the current session, including a bill setting up a Corruption Eradication Commission.
"Of those 22 bills, two bills -- on money laundering and electricity respectively -- need to be prioritized because they are attracting special attention from the international community," said Akbar in his opening speech.
The plenary meeting was scheduled to start at 9.00 a.m. but was delayed for half an hour because only a few legislators were present. The meeting ended a one-month-long recess.
Akbar expressed the hope that the bills on money laundering and electricity would be approved by Mar. 28, when legislators go into recess again, saying that Indonesia badly needed the passing of the two bills to regain credibility in the eyes of the international community, especially the international business community.
Alluding to the investigation of corruption cases involving powerful politicians, Akbar said the public at large should respect the presumption of innocence in all corruption cases.
"We also hope the investigation of corruption cases will be carried out transparently and fairly, including the case of Hutomo Mandala Putra, so that all are seen to be equal before the law," he said.
Commenting on the plan to drop charges against former president Soeharto, Akbar said he hoped President Megawati Soekarnoputri would be prudent in implementing the policy.
"The House also hopes that the National Police will soon transparently disclose its investigation into the murder of (Papuan separatist leader) Theys Hiyo Eluway," he said.
Bills to be deliberated cover the following issues: 1. Presidency, 2. Bank Credit, 3. Child Protection, 4. Legislative Procedures, 5. Medical Profession, 6. Sports, 7. National Education, 8. State Finance, 7. State Treasury, 8. State Finance Auditing, 9. Property Rights, 10. Manpower Protection, 11. Resolution of Industrial Disputes, 12. Establishment of Riau Islands province, 13. Legal Profession, 13. Tax Court, 14. Broadcasting, 15. Bank Indonesia, 16. Presidential Pardon, 17. Building, 18. Corruption Eradication Commission, 19. Revision of government ruling on state enterprises, 20. National Knowledge and Technology System, 21. State Debt, 22. The ratification of the treaty on principles governing the activities of states in exploration and use of outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, 1967