House vows to debate bills amid protests over Akbar's leadership

Debbie A. Lubis, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Under the leadership of embattled Akbar Tandjung, the House of Representatives began its latest session on Monday, pledging to debate 43 bills in just 25 working days.

In his speech, marred by interruptions and walkouts by a number of legislators in protest of his leadership, Akbar said the House aimed to pass a number of the bills to set the legal framework for the 2004 general elections and direct presidential election.

"The laws are required so the 2004 general elections will not be delayed and the General Elections Committee (KPU) can prepare for it," said Akbar, who was convicted of corruption in the National Logistics Agency (Bulog) scandal.

Political bills already in the hands of the House include those on general elections, the presidential institution, political parties, access to public information and the structure of the People's Consultative Assembly, the House, regional representative councils and local legislative councils.

In addition, the House also planned to pass the controversial bill on broadcasting, and bills on national education and the country's judicial system.

Judging from its poor performance in the past it remains questionable if the House can meet its targets.

The house passed only seven bills out of 29 bills targeted to be passed into law during the first session for the 2002/2003 year that started from mid-August.

The House passed only a couple of bills in the two sittings prior to that.

Critics have accused lawmakers of being too busy with furthering their own agendas and neglecting their legislative duties.

This time, the House is saddled with problems stemming from its speaker, Akbar Tandjung, who was convicted by the Central Jakarta District Court for defrauding the public of Rp 40 billion (US$4.3 million).

More than 100 legislators have signed a petition, asking Akbar to resign to give the House some credibility.

On Monday, a number of legislators, led by Dwi Ria Latifa of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), interrupted Akbar's speech and asked him to relinquish his seat.

"I urge the speaker to pay attention to the wishes of the people outside the House who demand he step down because he has already been convicted. It is also for the sake of the House's image," she said.

Golkar Party legislator Ferry Mursyidan Baldan immediately protested, saying the interruption was against House rules.

Akbar, also the Golkar Party chairman, then intervened and said the decision about who would lead the House would be discussed by the House Steering Committee (Bamus) on Oct. 31.

He said a letter signed by more than 100 legislators demanding he step down would also be discussed.

But Akbar's explanation only sparked more interruptions.

Golkar co-chairwoman Marwah Daud Ibrahim said it was urgent for the House to resolve the issues around Akbar or the people's interests would be neglected.

"We should settle the problem soon instead of talking here and there. The decision to determine whether Akbar keeps on leading us, or steps down temporarily, or becomes non active in House affairs is decided by us altogether," she said.

Marwah said the House should set a deadline to resolve the Akbar issue, otherwise legislators would be held hostage to internal problems.

Legislators then continued to make comments for almost one hour while Akbar sat calmly.

The legislators then let Akbar read the House's speech after he asked them to let him do so.

As soon as Akbar began, a number of legislators, including Dwi Ria Latifa, Permadi and Julius Usman from PDI Perjuangan and Ali Masykur Musa and Ida Fauziyah from the National Awakening faction (FKB), walked out.