House to start debating info bill

JAKARTA: A House of Representatives committee is set to deliberate a bill on the freedom of public information next week.

The committee will be chaired by Paulus Widiyanto, a legislator who headed the deliberation of the controversial broadcasting bill.

Paulus of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) will be accompanied in the committee by Effendi Choirie of the National Awakening Party (PKB) and Aisyah Aminy of the United Development Party (PPP).

Committee member Djoko Susilo said on Friday that the deliberation would begin with a hearing with State Minister of Communication and Information Syamsul Mu'arif.

The government-sponsored bill was submitted to the House early last year, but the legislators only recently managed to set up a committee to deliberate it. -- JP