Jakarta representatives propose joint secretariat

Jakarta representatives propose joint secretariat

Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The four members of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD)
from Jakarta will propose to the city administration the
establishment of a joint secretariat to serve them in responding
to constituents wishing to voice views or complaints.

Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, one of the four representatives who
garnered the most votes in the April 5 election, said there was
as yet no regulation providing funding for the DPD members from
each of the 32 provinces, or regulating how they should go about
their work.

"Therefore, we need a legal basis, such as a bylaw, for the
establishment of a secretariat," he told The Jakarta Post on
Thursday, saying that the four DPD members would soon meet with
Governor Sutiyoso to discuss the issue.

The Jakarta General Elections Commission (KPU Jakarta) has
confirmed the election of the four Jakarta representatives to the
DPD, a new legislative body. They were among 38 candidates who
stood in the election.

Besides Sarwono, who is a former minister, the three other DPD
members are cosmetics entrepreneur Mooryati Soedibyo, radio
personality Biem Triani Benjamin, and former Indosat executive
Marwan Batubara.

Sarwono argued that such secretariat was essential for the DPD
members in the performance of their work as, according to the
law, they are only given the chance to hold a meeting once per
year during their five-year terms.

"Each of us have our own way of delivering what our voters
want in the DPD, but we also need to maintain relations and
communications between us, as well as with our respective voters
in an informal way," he said.

The DPD and House of Representatives will jointly constitute
the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), the highest legislative
institution in the country.

The amended 1945 Constitution entrusts DPD members with the
right to initiate legislation on regional autonomy, relations
between the central and regional administrations, the
establishment of autonomous regions, resource management and
revenue-sharing between the central and regional administrations.

The DPD, however, has been given no decisive function in the
law-making process as its members will not be involved in the
final deliberation of bills.

Therefore, Sarwono said, enlarging the functions and powers of
the DPD would be the main task of all its members, with priority
being focused on the amendment of the 1945 Constitution and
relevant legislation.

The laws that the four DPD members considered as being in need
of revision included Law No. 34/1999 on the special capital
district of Jakarta, and the regional autonomy laws.

Sarwono, however, refused to give details of which aspects of
these laws needed to be overhauled, saying this was the task of
constitutional law experts.