Interest groups likely to retain seats in MPR
Interest groups likely to retain seats in MPR
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Following intensive lobbying among major factions at the People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR), the 65-member interest group
faction, that represents various groups in society not
represented by any political party, will possibly continue to
maintain existence at the Assembly.
The possibility surfaced on Monday when the Assembly's ad hoc
committee preparing the amendments to the Constitution agreed to
note the faction's existence as a second alternative to the
Assembly's proposed composition in the amendment's fourth
package.
A draft made on June 28 stipulates that members of the
interest group will be elected by the House and the ruling on the
election will be regulated further in a law.
Secretary of the Assembly's ad hoc committee, Ali Masykur Musa
acknowledged that the idea to maintain the interest group
representatives came from major factions, including Golkar and
the Indonesian Military/National Police faction, following
intensive lobbying among factions over the last three months.
The amendment's fourth package is scheduled to be endorsed in
the Assembly's Annual Session scheduled for Aug. 1 through Aug.
12.
Ali, however, insisted that so far, the ad hoc committee had
yet to decide whether to accept the proposed presence of the
interest groups in the Assembly.
Most factions in the Assembly were of the opinion that the
faction should be dissolved because special interest groups could
channel their political aspirations through political parties.
Ali pointed out that the additional clause that members of the
interest group faction would be elected by the DPR represented a
significant development during the deliberation on the substance
of the fourth package of amendments.
Agun Gunandjar Sudarsa, a committee member of the Golkar Party
said that the issue of the interest group had not been resolved.
He suggested that there must be specific criteria for
organizations that could be included in the interest group.
"It is very likely that the MPR will consist of members of DPR
and DPD (without the interest group)," Agun added.
The plan to remove the interest group from the Assembly is
aimed at cleansing the highest law-making body from appointed
members. Without joining the general elections, the interest
group, representing various societal groups are given 65 non-
elected seats at the Assembly.
In the past, the interest group representatives were appointed
by governors, senior government officials and organizations that
supported the status quo.
However, constitutional law expert Jimly Asshidiqqie suggested
that the presence of the interest group faction in the Assembly
should be maintained.
He said the interest group's presence would ensure that all
societal groups which were not linked to political parties were
represented in the Assembly.