Legislators

Legislators

From Kompas

Reporters are often blamed by members of the House of Representatives for not giving full support to the function of the House. Citing an example, one legislator, Mrs. Marwah Daud, said reporters came to a House hearing only when the government made a statement (Kompas, Nov. 11), leaving the debates between the House and the government unattended. The result was the reporters had the impression that the legislators only gave their approval to government actions.

I am not intending to defend my profession, but I would like to present the true picture. On the contrary to what is said by the legislator above, we reporters have enthusiastically wanted to support the honorable legislators. Some legislators often put questions through their colleagues to be raised during the debates. It is no secret that many legislators do not bother to ask questions during a hearing with the government. A minister once said the legislators should not ask questions on the same issues all the time.

Reporters are supportive of the legislators' functions. This is evident when legislators come to the pressroom to hand out press releases. Sometimes it is the reporter who writes the release for a legislator.

Let each of us engage in introspection in order to enhance our respective service. Reporters should act according to their profession, and legislators also should work according to their commitment, including as a control to government's actions. Why do people prefer to come to the National Committee on Human Rights to forward their cases rather than to the House of Representatives? Is it right to work on behalf of the people, but for personal benefit?

We should all learn to be more mature, and not try to make other parties scapegoats for our own flaws.

A Jakarta reporter