Legislative-executive

Legislative-executive
synergy needed

From Koran Tempo

The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) and the House of
Representatives (DPR) should operate according to their scope of
authority and should not maneuver to resist president-elect
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's government during the next term.

These comments were made by new MPR Speaker Hidayat Nur Wahid,
who also said any attempt by members of the two institutions to
go beyond their legislative authority would cause confusion in
government and in the running of the public administration.

Agung Laksono, following his election as House speaker, also
shared the view that DPR members should become a balancing
counterpart instead of a spoiling opposition. He hoped there
would be no moves to confront the new president.

The prediction of an unhealthy schism arising between the next
government and the MPR-DPR has mostly come from some of the
political elite, who point to the small number of party members
supporting Susilo and vice president-elect Jusuf Kalla in the
legislative institutions.

Legislators should be well aware that besides representing
their parties, they are expected by their electorates to make a
positive contribution to the government to help the country go
forward smoothly.

To this end, good legislative-executive relations and synergy
are needed.

ALAMSYAH
Jakarta