Legislators promise to deliberate all bills

JAKARTA (JP): The clock is ticking away for members of the House of Representatives, whose term ends on Sept. 30, but they have promised to complete all bill deliberations in August so as not to leave unfinished work for their successors.

The 500 legislators will break for a one and a half month recess Thursday. Most of them will spend the time in nationwide election campaigns, which run from April 27 to May 23.

This will give them five months to finish processing eight final bills. The House has endorsed most of the 68 bills submitted by the government. Observers have criticized legislators for hastily discussing the bills, saying this resulted in poor-quality laws.

Secretary of the dominant Golkar faction Andi Mattalata said yesterday legislators are keen to end their term and do not want to burden their successors with extra work.

"It is always assumed that legislators will manage to complete their jobs within their term," said Matalatta, who chairs the House's special committee which is now deliberating defense and security bills.

Chairman of the United Development Party (PPP) faction Hamzah Haz also predicted that House members would finish the remaining eight bills in August.

The House will pass the bill on national statistics today and the bill on transmigration tomorrow.

After the recess, legislators will resume discussing the bills on the national police, mobilization, military disciplines, the military tribunal, futures commodity trading, narcotics, the environment and manpower. The manpower bill will have the first reading.

Hamzah said limited time would not discourage the legislators. He said they would endorse bills that accommodate both the government's interests and the public's rights.

"We have always made changes in the original bills, ranging from mere semantic to essential ones," Hamzah said.

Hamzah and Matalatta do not expect more bills to come in, as legislators are already swamped by work.

"We are dealing with the biggest number of bills ever," Matalatta said.

"The government should in the next period arrange a better distribution of bills so that the House can work more efficiently. Our Guideline of State Policies has suggested this," he added.

Complaints of overburden have been common in the past three five-year periods.

Matalatta said better government planning would allow the House to improve its manpower.

"Our job is not only producing laws, but controlling law enforcement as well," Andi said.

Hamzah also spoke about the need to review the House's internal rules, widely criticized for its restrictive nature. He said PPP members have been trying to convince the other factions to campaign for reform on the internal rules.

"Each of the (four factions contacted have) in principle agreed to the changes because they want the House to function optimally," Hamzah said.

The PPP proposal for reform of the rules received support from the Armed Forces faction yesterday. The Moslem-oriented party faction will seek support from Golkar today, as it will need the support of at least two of the House's four factions before the proposal can be heard and deliberated. (amd)