MPR committee deadlocked on leadership

MPR committee deadlocked on leadership

JAKARTA (JP): The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Ad Hoc
Committee I ended a meeting on Monday in deadlock after the
dominant Golkar's refusal to separate the Assembly's leadership
from that of the House of Representatives (DPR) prevailed over
the wishes of the other four factions.

The stalemate became apparent early in the meeting and was
still there after three sessions.

After failing to reach an agreement in its first session, the
committee took the draft decree (on the separation of the MPR
from DPR) to a consultation forum. This move also ended without
agreement.

After coming back for its third session, all factions agreed
to leave the decision to the Assembly's Working Committee.

"If the Working Committee cannot agree on the draft decree,
either, it would likely submit it to the Assembly's Special
Session (planned for Nov. 10)," said Marwah Daud Ibrahim, the
chairwoman of the Ad Hoc Committee I, after closing the session.

The Working Committee of the MPR (known as BP MPR), entrusted
with preparing the MPR Special Session, is divided into two ad
hoc committees. The first is in charge of preparing general
elections, while the second is entrusted with preparing the
agenda for the special session.

Marwah said all the factions agreed that the decree, if
accepted, would apply for MPR and DPR members elected in the next
general election because "we will have many more factions in the
two state institutions in line with the planned multiparty
system."

Golkar spokesman Syamsul Muarif said his faction could not
accept the draft decree because the factions had no plausible and
substantial reasons as to why they wanted to separate the MPR
leadership from that of the DPR.

He warned that a separation of the two state institutions
would have the major consequence that "the separation will bring
changes to the two institutions' internal rules."

He argued that separation contradicted the 1945 Constitution.
If separated, the MPR and DPR would have to have their own
membership and internal rules. At present, MPR membership is
1,000, half of which comprises the DPR.

Hadisusastro, spokesman for the Armed Forces (ABRI) faction,
said the MPR leadership should be separated from the DPR
leadership because the MPR was the highest state institution.

"All existing state institutions, including the DPR and the
presidency, are subordinate to the MPR and, therefore, the
highest state institution should have its own speaker and deputy
speakers," he said.

The two state institutions are currently chaired by the same
leadership.

Chozin Chumaidy, representing the United Development Party
(PPP) faction, said the two state institutions' leadership should
be separated in order to empower both.

"We propose the draft decree because the people want it ... We
must give voice to the majority who have demanded the separation
in order to empower the MPR and the DPR," he said.

He also said the MPR could be empowered further by giving it
more tasks so it would work for the duration of its five-year
tenure, rather than just meeting once.

"The MPR should be given additional tasks such as reviewing
the laws so that it will work from time to time. Another
additional function could be to appoint the heads of the Supreme
Audit Agency and the Supreme Court," he said.

Widodo AS, the chairman of the Assembly's Ad Hoc Committee II,
said that all factions on his committee agreed to abolish the
referendum law but none wanted to make changes to the
Constitution.

According to the law, the Constitution can be reviewed by the
MPR through a referendum in which at least two thirds of the MPR
members must be present and at least two thirds of those present
must agree to the proposed changes.

Widodo said that all factions also accepted the draft decree
on lifting the subversion law and would propose that the House
make another law to replace it. (rms)