Peodjono elected MPR working commitee chief

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)