'Parliament Watch' for environment to be set up

JAKARTA: State Minister of the Environment Nabiel Makarim disclosed on Tuesday his plan to establish a monitoring body in all regions nationwide to observe the works of city councillors in connection with the implementation of environmental policies.

The policies Nabiel was referring to include those on landslides and the prevention of floods.

Nabiel said the monitoring bodies would be termed as the "Parliament Watch".

"The monitoring bodies will be established in city councils and their members will comprise lovers of the environment, those who really care about Indonesia's environment ... not members of political parties," Nabiel told reporters in Bandung, West Java.

Nabiel said the sole function of Parliament Watch members would monitor and report on the environmental policies taken by the city councillors.

"The members of the monitoring bodies will name the councillors who genuinely care about environmental issues and others who do not ... and whether councillors actually listen to the public about what they want in relation to such issues," Nabiel said.

Nabiel said that it was his hope that the monitoring bodies would act as a catalyst for the councillors, to be able to voice the general public's complaints on environmental issues, and help the public deal with environmental dangers.

Killer floods that hit the nation and swept away hundreds of lives within days, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without homes or employment across the nation, reflects the government's ill intentions of not wanting to part with extra relief funds. -- Antara