House to start selecting KPI members

JAKARTA: The House of Representatives will begin selecting members for the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) on Dec. 4, and hope to complete the process by Dec. 11.

Djoko Susilo, chairman of House Commission I's media subcommission, said on Monday subcommission members had agreed to begin the selection process as early as possible.

"We have agreed to start selecting KPI members on Dec. 4. I think that allows enough time for the selection," Djoko said.

President Megawati Soekarnoputri submitted the names of 27 candidates for the KPI to the House early last month. The House will select nine of the candidates for the commission, and their names will be sent back to the President for approval.

Law No. 31/2002 on broadcasting gives both the government and the House until Dec. 28 to form the KPI. The broadcasting commission's duties will include formulating a code of conduct for broadcasting corporations, monitoring its implementation and meting out punishment to offenders.

Some of the candidates submitted by the President are known to have opposed the broadcasting law. --JP