Military replaces its legislator

JAKARTA: Maj. Gen. Willem T Da Costa, a legislator from the Military/Police faction, was officially replaced on Friday by colleague Maj. Gen. M. Ali Fathan as he is due to retire.

The replacement took place at a modest ceremony headed by House Speaker Akbar Tandjung here.

In his speech, Akbar said that the new legislator should quickly adapt to his role as a member of the House of Representatives.

He remarked that the House had the responsibility to discuss 56 bills, 41 of which were prepared by the legislators themselves.

Akbar suggested that House members focus on finishing those bills because the legislators would end their official term in September.

He said there would be only 123 effective days left for the legislators to discuss the bills. -- JP