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.