House to read 3rd political bill next week

House to read 3rd political bill next week

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Following the endorsement of the laws on political parties and
general elections, the House of Representatives was scheduled to
read the bill on the composition of the legislative bodies, which
gives less power to regional representatives.

Yahya Zaini, the chairman of the special committee established
by the House to deliberate the bill, said here on Tuesday that
the deliberation of the bill was expected to take only two or
three months as it contained very few contentious issues.

He predicted that the contentious issues would include the
legislative rights of regional representatives, and the People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR) leadership.

Despite being elected at a general election, regional
representatives will have less power than legislators from the
political parties as their legislative rights will be restricted
to dealing with local government matters only.

In the past, regional representatives were appointed but in
future in line with the amended Constitution, the regional
representatives will be elected at general elections and be given
legislative rights to make laws as part of a separate house of
the MPR.

Yahya said that the next question was whether a permanent MPR
leadership would be needed because in accordance with the
Constitution, the MPR would exist only when legislators
assembled.

The bill is part of the political laws which are being
prepared for the 2004 general elections. The House is also about
to read the bill on presidential elections which was recently
submitted by the government to the legislature.

Yahya said his committee was considering working through the
House recess from March 8 through April 25 to deliberate the
bill.

"We will discuss our agenda next Thursday. Possibly, we will
keep working during the upcoming recess," he added.

House Deputy Speaker Soetardjo Soeryogoeritno, who is
responsible for political matters, said that legislators would
soon form a committee to deliberate the direct presidential
elections bill.

Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung and the chairman of the
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), Roy
B.B. Janis, warned legislators of another prolonged debate should
each faction insist on sticking by their proposals.

Roy suggested that all nine factions in the House focus on
improving rules instead of defending their narrow, political
interests.

As to the committee's leadership, Yahya will be accompanied by
Sukowaluyo Mintorahardjo of the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), Tahir Saimima of the United
Development Party (PPP), and Chatibul Umam Wiranu of the National
Awakening Party (PKB).

Compared to the current Law No.4/1999 on the composition of
the legislative bodies, the bill provides for a new legislative
body, the Regional Representatives Council (DPD).

The also provides for the composition of the People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR), House of Representatives (DPR), the
provincial legislative councils, and the regency and municipal
legislatures.

The establishment of the DPD as part of the MPR is based on
the two-chamber legislative system and is mandated by the
recently amended Constitution.