Many people dissatisfied with House's performance: Wahono

Many people dissatisfied with House's performance: Wahono

JAKARTA (JP): House of Representatives Speaker Wahono, at the
start of the last session of the current House, conceded that
many people were dissatisfied with the legislature's performance
and called on newly elected members to be more open and
responsive to the people.

"We hope that the 1997/2002 House members will be able to meet
the people's increasingly critical and dynamic expectations and
aspirations," he said in addressing Saturday's opening plenary
session.

Yesterday's opening ceremony was capped off by President
Soeharto's state address.

Wahono, 72, maintained that the new legislature, to be sworn
in on Oct. 1, should be able to continue and improve the work of
the current one.

"The quality of the elected members has been improved and they
have also followed other related activities to prepare themselves
for the assumption of such honorable positions," he said,
covertly referring to the crash course programs that new members
have been asked to take to give them basic knowledge on state
affairs.

While noting the progress made by the current House, Wahono
acknowledged there was still dissatisfaction over its
performance.

"We can also feel that the people are not yet satisfied with
the work and performance of the House.

"We are accepting this dissatisfaction with a broad mind,
because as a result of development progress we are aware that the
people's demands continue to rise, in addition to the
increasingly sharp criticism by the people," said Wahono who has
been House speaker since 1992.

Nevertheless, he argued that during the 1992/1997 term of the
current House, "we notice a higher intensity in the supervisory
function carried by the House commissions and the legislative
functions".

Looking ahead, he spoke of the need for "a wider horizon" to
inspire "greater openness".

"This should be an openness based on truth, justice and
sincerity, as well as solidarity motivated by mutual respect so
openness becomes a blessing for the nation not, on the contrary,
a source of national disintegration," he said.

Despite having less than two months before the current House
is disbanded, eight draft laws still remain to be deliberated --
the environment management bill, commodity futures trading bill,
military tribunal and court bill, mobilization and demobilization
bill, Armed Forces soldier's discipline bill, State Policy bill,
Manpower bill and the broadcasting bill.

"Hopefully these bills will be enacted by the termination of
the current House term of office. Otherwise the coming House of
Representatives will have to start all over again," Wahono said.

Two of the draft bills -- on manpower and broadcasting --
remain controversial.

The broadcasting bill, after being initially approved by the
House, was sent back by the government for amendment. It was the
first time in the New Order era that a bill had been returned to
House.

The government has also been pushing for the hasty passing of
the manpower bill. Despite being in recess, a special House
commission met with government officials last month to discuss
the bill for five days at a hotel in North Jakarta.

Wahono in his address affirmed that "in the deliberations over
these bills, the principles of thoroughness and accuracy are
maintained". (mds)