Late amendment harms elections

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A legislator tries to allay fears that the delayed People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) decree for a direct presidential election will hamper preparations for the 2004 general elections.

Andi Mattalatta said on Monday said that the government could start revising laws on subjects other than the pending issues.

For example, the government could start deliberating the bill on the establishment of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) and some adjustments of other laws.

"For the bill on the election system, it can be made public from now on and the adjustments can be made later," Andi told The Jakarta Post here on Monday.

Andi, a legislator from the Golkar Party, said that the House of Representatives (DPR) was ready to deliberate on the amendment as soon as possible.

Fear of legal problems in the 2004 elections have been expressed by many groups following the delay in the amendment of articles relating to the direct presidential election in last week's MPR Annual Session.

An expert from the Justice and Human Rights Ministry, A.A. Oka Mahendra suggested that the political laws should become the top priority in the House's upcoming sessions set to open on Nov. 19.

"I think the political bills are currently being reassessed at the home affairs ministry already," Oka said.

One of those worried about the 2004 elections is Mulyana W. Kusumah, a member of the General Elections Commission (KPU).

The failure in amending some articles, including an article on the presidential election is feared to affect the schedule to revise the laws.

On Article 6A of the amendment bill, the Assembly factions were unable to reach a consensus with regard to a possible second round of voting if a candidate does not receive more than half the popular vote. One side of the MPR wanted there to be a second round of public voting, the other side thinks it would be better if it were thrown back to the Assembly to vote on.

The other article suspended for enactment is the article on the composition of the Assembly. The opposing camps argue on whether to include the non-elected Interest Group faction in the membership of the Assembly or not.

"Ideally, the political laws should have been made public 18 months before election day," Mulyana told the Post.