House to prioritize bills related to democracy, justice
House to prioritize bills related to democracy, justice
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Many of the bills relating to efforts to develop a more
democratic political system and a strong judicial system will be
put on top of the House of Representatives (DPR)'s legislative
agenda, legislators say.
House Legislative Body (Baleg) deputy chairwoman Dwi Ria
Latifa said over the weekend that lawmakers had made a priority
list to enable them to come up with quality laws.
"Without making a priority list, lawmakers will work
haphazardly and produce less quality laws," she told The Jakarta
Post here on Saturday.
Dwi Ria from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) added that developing democracy and strengthening the
judicial system have been mandated by the Constitution.
Fellow Baleg member Agun Gunandjar Sudarsa of the Golkar Party
concurred with Dwi Ria, saying that the House had to discuss the
priority list with Cabinet members.
Amendments to the Constitution have resulted in better
democratization in the country. The amendments, for example, have
adopted a direct presidential election, replacing the 50-year-old
system wherein a handful of legislators elected the president.
The newly amended Constitution also mandates the establishment
of the Constitutional Court which, along with the Supreme Court,
will function as the highest judicial institution.
Given all that, Agun said that lawmakers must continue to pass
necessary legislation to support the Constitution by completing
the bills currently before them.
He singled out Law No. 22/1999 on Regional Administrations,
which needed to be revised to insert articles on direct elections
for governors and regents.
"The amended Constitution calls for the adoption of direct
elections for governors and regents," he said, referring to
Article 18 (4) of the Constitution.
Agun added that the House would also put the bills on the
Presidency, the Cabinet, the revisions of laws on the Public
Court, the State Administrative Court and the Attorney General's
Office as priorities.
Baleg spokespersons have said the revisions of those three
laws would be completed on Feb. 26, 2004.
He said that lawmakers would also discuss the bill on a
judicial commission, which is meant to ensure fair and
transparent recruitment of judges.
Although the legislators have already found much common ground
on the bills included on the priority list, there is still doubt
that the House will be able to finish in such a limited time,
given this House's track record in recent years.
Dwi Ria suggested that legislators should focus on prioritized
bills in an attempt to produce quality laws. She said that the
approaching elections could hamper the process, because many
legislators may choose to skip out on deliberations to campaign
for their own reelection.
Agun added that if the legislators could not finish the bills,
the unfinished ones would be dealt with during the next sitting
session.
House Speaker Akbar Tandjung has set a target of completing 46
bills in the current 35-day session. Those bills, however, do not
include another 10 still being prepared by Baleg. Those are on
territorial borders, teachers, criminalizing certain personal
sexual habits, regional taxation and fees, mass organizations,
small islands and coastal areas management, extradition, regional
enterprises, youth matters and environmental management.
Status of the Bills
No. Bills Quantity
1. Bills drafted by the government 15
2. Bills drafted by the House, but not yet submitted to the President 11
3. Bills drafted by the House, but still at State Secretariat 14
4. Bills drafted by the House and in process of deliberation 6
5. Bills in process at the House 10
Total 56
Source: Baleg