Peodjono elected MPR working commitee chief

JAKARTA (JP): The People's Consultative Assembly's (MPR) working committee, responsible for drafting MPR decrees and electing new president, held its first plenary session yesterday establishing its own leadership.

Four deputies were elected to assist committee's chairman H. Poedjono Pranyoto. They are Maj. Gen. Hari Sabarno of the Armed Forces (ABRI) faction, Abdul Latief of Golkar, R. Soedaryanto of Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), Tosari Widjaya of United Development Party (PPP) and H.Z.B. Palaguna representing regional representatives faction.

Poedjono was recently also elected deputy speaker of the MPR's regional representatives faction. He has held the post of governor of Lampung since 1988.

"The MPR working committee, which starts its meetings today, is important in helping to determine the direction of the nation," said Poedjono.

The 90-member working committee was set up three days after the induction of the 1,000-strong MPR on Oct. 1.

The committee comprises 45 Assembly members and 45 reserves.

The committee will be divided into two groups. One is responsible for drawing up and deliberating state policies while the other deals with matters concerning MPR decrees.

The MPR will hold a plenary session in March to elect a president and vice president and to endorse the State Policy Guidelines.

"We are expected to absorb people's aspirations," Poedjono said of the committee's duties. (prb)