Legislators told to forget holidays

JAKARTA: Speaker of the House of Representatives Akbar Tandjung told House committees deliberating bills on the presidential election and the composition of the People's Consultative Assembly, House and the regional representative councils to forego their upcoming recess period in order to debate the drafts.

"The committee must work during the recess," said Akbar, who was convicted of corruption and sentenced to three-years jail by the Central Jakarta District Court. He is free pending an appeal.

Faction chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) Roy B.B. Janis concurred Thursday.

The House is scheduled to go into recess from March 7 till April 25.

Although it is uncommon for legislators to use the recess period to work, the move would help speed up passage of the crucial bills.

Meanwhile, a House steering committee (Bamus) failed on Thursday to discuss the formation of a team to deliberate a bill on a direct presidential election.

Of the 76 committee members, only 37 showed up, prompting legislators to postpone the meeting until next Thursday. -- JP