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.