House to discuss antiterrorism bills

JAKARTA: The House of Representatives (DPR) on Monday formed a special committee to deliberate the much-awaited antiterrorism bills.

The establishment of the special committee took place two months after the bills were submitted by the government in November last year.

Previously, legislators pledged that they would have finished deliberating the new legislation by November last year.

The bills were prompted by the Oct. 12 terrorist attack in Bali, which killed over 190 people, mostly foreigners.

Besides setting up a committee to discuss the bills, the House also formed a committee to discuss the establishment of West Sulawesi province and the amendment of Law No. 34/1999 on the Jakarta provincial administration.

House Deputy Speaker Muhaimin Iskandar said that these committees would report to the steering committee before they started their work. -- JP