Legislator loses out on plenary session

JAKARTA (JP): Andi Matalatta, chairman of the Golkar faction in the House of Representatives, missed the plenary session of the People's Consultative Assembly on Tuesday because no seat was prepared for him.

"I found no seat prepared for me so I went out. I have complained to the MPR Secretariat General but there's no response so far. But lucky for you, this means I am now available for you to interview," he told The Jakarta Post outside the plenary hall.

Asked about the Golkar faction's political stance regarding the Armed Forces' presence in the legislative body, he told the Post that his faction would agreed with a gradual decrease in ABRI's representation in the House.

"For the next period, ABRI's presence there is still needed," he said. (rms)