MPR still undecided over constitutional team

JAKARTA (JP): Factions at the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) are taking a wait-and-see stand as to whether an independent commission is needed to help it amend the 1945 Constitution.

Akbar Tandjung of the Golkar Party faction said his team was waiting for responses from other factions to the plan to set up an independent body for constitutional amendments.

"We will give our support if other factions also agree to the proposal," he said on the sidelines of the MPR Annual Session on Wednesday

The Love the Nation Democratic Party (PDKB) faction has called on the Assembly to appoint experts to an independent team tasked with constitutional amendments after the MPR's efforts to do the job sparked criticism from many corners.

Nongovernmental organizations and political observers have criticized factions at the Assembly for being trapped by their own political interests when considering the amendments.

Akbar, who also chairs the Golkar Party, said that whatever happens to the proposal, his faction would support the Assembly's endorsement of all matters agreed upon by representatives of factions at the working committee level.

"A constitutional commission could start their work by amending disputed materials," he said.

Jacob Tobing of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction said his faction had no objection to the proposal and would support it if all materials amended were not endorsed at the Annual Session.

He conceded that the Assembly was hurriedly doing the amendments and the factions were thinking of their own interests. He said it would be better for the Assembly to postpone the approval of the amendments until next year to give enough time for the public to contribute their ideas.

"Our faction really intends to take the amendments extra cautiously because we want a constitution that will last for two or three decades," he said.

Lt. Gen. Hari Sabarno, deputy chairman of the Assembly, hailed the PDKB faction's proposal, saying amendments to the constitution should be free from political interests and anticipate all possible developments over the next three decades.

"We should be extra careful in amending the constitution because the nation is in need of a constitution that will function as a guideline for the nation in attaining its future goals," he said. (rms)