Legislators question immigration bill

JAKARTA: A number of House of Representatives legislators questioned on Tuesday a clause in the new immigration bill that requires the opening of an immigration unit in every Indonesian embassy.

They said the establishment of these immigration unit, which would be run by immigration officers, would be too costly and "contradict international convention".

The House's domestic and legal affairs commission is set to start deliberating the bill, despite the fact that the current House's term will end on Sept. 30.

House foreign affairs commission members Djoko Susilo and Yasril Ananta Baharuddin insisted that their commission be represented during the deliberations, in accordance with a recommendation recently issued by the House leadership.

Indonesia has 119 representative offices overseas. -- JP