Legislators submit antimonopoly bill, start deliberation
Legislators submit antimonopoly bill, start deliberation
JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives (DPR) began on
Friday the deliberation of the long-awaited antimonopoly bill,
introduced to ensure fair competition in the country's business
activities.
The draft law, which is called the Prohibition of Monopoly
Practices Bill and consists of 11 chapters and 53 verses, was
submitted by a group of 38 legislators from the House's four
factions.
If the draft law is approved, it will become the first law
drafted and submitted by House members, who according to the
Constitution have the right to make a law but have never
exercised the privilege.
Group member Rambe Kamarulzaman of the ruling Golkar faction
said on Friday the representatives exercised their "initiative
rights" to propose the legislation, which had not been invoked
since being introduced in 1971.
He said the government had prepared its own draft law on
combating monopolies but the House decided to first deliberate
the group's draft.
"Our draft was the first one submitted to the House, that is
why it will be deliberated first," Rambe said.
A similar plenary session will be held next Thursday to hear
the House's response to the draft law, he said, adding that if
the bill is accepted then the House would form a working group to
debate it further.
Rambe said the House decided to draft a law on monopolies out
of concern for the current unhealthy business climate in the
country.
"Many people currently have to suffer from monopolistic
business practices in the country," he said. "We think it's
important to draft a bill which prohibits any graft practices
which could lead to monopoly," he added.
Much of the business sector in the country is currently
controlled by a handful of business groups involving former
president Soeharto's circle, making the economy more fragile in
times like the current crisis.
Rambe said the legislators' draft was prepared over three and
a half months from May 28 to Sept. 13.
The drafting process involved experts, economists, academics,
business figures and non-governmental organizations, he said.
He said the group would deliver the draft to President B.J.
Habibie and request that government representatives study the
bill.
The bill outlaws business agreements which might distort
market competition such as price fixing, market allocations,
boycotts, closed deals, cartels, trusts, monopolies, and vertical
integrations.
The bill would also prohibit market domination, conspiracy
against business rivals, deceiving trading schemes and
fraudulent practices.
It regulates dubious maneuvers which might be considered
monopolies, such as mergers, consolidations, liquidations,
acquisitions, as well as holding multiple executive jobs.
The bill advocates the establishment of a Commission for
Business Competition to investigate, adjudicate and advise on the
monitoring of the law's implementation.
Violators of the law will face administrative and criminal
charges, the legislation says. (das)