House to discuss 22 bills

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