Legislators told to forget holidays

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