Legislators divided from the people they 'represent'

JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives (DPR) has failed to live up to its name, some legislators say.

The legislators admit they are no longer close to the people as a whole or their constituents, a result, they said, of the dominant role played by their respective political parties in the decision-making process in the House.

Mochtar Buchori, a legislator from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), conceded he was no longer active in the House because of his work as a lecturer and author. He said he did not consider the House to be a state institution that represented the people's aspirations.

He said he did not feel at home in the House because the majority of legislators went beyond the Constitution in carrying out the legislative duties.

"The majority of legislators are no longer aware of their status and the major problems facing the nation. They prefer politicking to channeling the people's aspirations. Of course, we are representing our own political parties, but our purpose in the House is to represent the people, for which we are paid," he said recently.

Mochtar said he would resign from the House if there were no changes in the legislative body within the next three months.

He said he would be happy to leave the House and concentrate on his work as a lecturer and newspaper columnist.

"I am now writing three books and The Jakarta Post has pledged to sponsor their launching," he added.

Aberson Marle Sihaloho, Mochtar's outspoken PDI Perjuangan colleague, said he frequently had differences of opinion on numerous matters and issues with his faction and party.

"Of course, we sit in the House through the party that won a major victory in the last general election, but the party, including its chairperson and executive board, should bear in mind that we are here to represent the people and channel their political aspirations," he said.

Speaking about the House's recent investigation into the two financial scandals allegedly linked to the President, he said a number of PDI Perjuangan legislators who protested the probe were forced to accept it because of the party's policy.

"Legislators should be allowed to have a different stance on the investigation because the investigation was proposed not by the party but by legislators who have inquiry rights," he said.

Aberson also regretted PDI Perjuangan chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri's recent attack on party legislators seen as being disloyal.

He said the dominating role played by parties in the House contributed to the body's tarnished image, the heated political situation and to the House's absence of serious attention to numerous major problems, including the economic crisis, political instability and conflicts in several provinces.

Megawati, in a meeting with more than 4,000 legislators from across the nation here last month, slammed a number of legislators who acted beyond the party's policies, and imposed administrative sanctions against several others.

Aberson said any division between legislators and their parties could be avoided only if parties' political platforms were in accordance with the Constitution and the law, and the district system was implemented in the next general election.

He said he was certain legislators would not act outside of their parties' policies if these policies agreed with the Constitution and the law.

He also said the domination of parties could be reduced if the district system was implemented in general elections, because under this system, legislators would have a moral obligation to fight for their constituents' political aspirations and their activities would be controlled.

Habil Marati, a legislator form the United Development Party (PPP), said he was of the opinion that the tension between the House and the executive body had a lot to do with the House's failure to pay serious attention to the true condition and needs of the people.

He said the House was busy with political issues and engaged in a tug-of-war over a fair division of power, as seen in the investigation into the two financial scandals and the polemic on the dismissal of two former economic ministers.

He said many people were confused by the House's recent censure of the President for his alleged involvement in the financial scandals.

"If the factions stuck to the Constitution, a memorandum (of censure) could be issued only if the President was found guilty (by the courts) of the scandals," he said, adding that he and his faction had a difference of opinion over the results of the investigation.

He said his faction recalled him from the special committee that investigated the scandals in response to his criticism of the committee's bias in carrying out its investigation. (rms)