Legislators urged to be more critical

JAKARTA (JP): House Speaker Wahono called on members of the House of Representatives yesterday to pump up their courage and dare to criticize government policies.

Wahono said in his speech which marked the 52nd anniversary of the House, which is often criticized for meekness, that criticism could at least serve as proof that legislators exercised their constitutional duties as representatives of the people.

"The House plays a strategic role as a chain connecting public aspirations and government policies. We are obliged to courageously ask government officials about various matters which become public concern," Wahono said.

Also present at the celebration were Mrs. Try Sutrisno, the wife of Vice President Try Sutrisno, Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security Soesilo Soedarman, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Azwar Anas, former House speaker Kharis Suhud, Armed Forces Chief of Sociopolitical Affairs Lt. Gen. Syarwan Hamid, Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Sutiyoso and many other former House leaders.

Wahono said people had lodged complaints with the House over various issues through rallies or letters, hoping that the body would mediate.

"The complaints, as well as our findings at the grassroots level, have always served as important input in our meetings with the government." Wahono said.

He said House efforts to channel public aspirations had in many cases bore fruit. He said the ban on the national lottery SDSB in 1994 and the disclosure of an embezzlement case worth US$620 million committed by businessman Edy Tanzil in 1995 were obvious examples of jobs well done by the House.

Wahono also hailed legislators for exercising their amendment right in many deliberations of government-sponsored bills.

A total of 374 bills will have been passed by the House in the New Order era when current legislators wrap up their term on Sept. 30.

The House currently has three bills left for deliberation, including the broadcasting bill. The government prompted an unprecedented second deliberation of the broadcasting bill, now underway, due to some problematic articles.

Feudalism

Wahono said the success of the House's efforts to channel public complaints would heavily depend on the government's willingness to respond.

He complained that the House might not be able to empower itself, despite the fact that it had already amended its internal rules, due to a political culture that provided no room for different opinions.

"If paternalism, feudalism, uneasiness ... are maintained, our painstaking efforts to amend the internal rules will not (result) in (the improvement) of ourselves," Wahono said.

The House will pass amendments of its internal rules on Sept. 19. They include a simplified mechanism for legislators to exercise their rights and a reduction of House commissions from 11 to eight to enable the underrepresented Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) to participate in decision-making processes.

Saiful Sulun, who was deputy house speaker from 1987 to 1992, agreed with Wahono, saying that all initiatives to empower the House would be a waste without significant changes in the current political system.

"Our political system has yet to give enough power to the House to carry out its supervision over the government. But we are heading toward an ideal system," he said.

Yesterday's celebration saw 28 legislators awarded the Satya Lencana Wirakarya medal by President Soeharto. Among the legislators were deputy speakers Ismail Hasan Metareum of the United Development Party and Soerjadi of PDI. All of the awarded legislators have been in service for four consecutive five-year terms.

The newly born Republic of Indonesia set up on Aug. 29, 1945, a national committee which carried out legislation until the House of Representatives and the People's Consultative Assembly were created as suggested by the 1945 Constitution.

Indonesia managed only to form a provisional House of Representatives in the late 1950s after President Sukarno announced a decree which reinstated the 1945 Constitution.

The House became a permanent body after the 1971 general election, the first poll under the New Order administration. (10/amd)