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