PPP drafting bill to simplify House procedure rules

PPP drafting bill to simplify House procedure rules

JAKARTA (JP): The United Development Party (PPP) is drafting a
bill to simplify the House of Representatives' rules, which have
long been accused of suppressing legislators' initiatives.

The head of the Moslem-oriented party's faction in the House,
Hamzah Haz, said yesterday that the proposal would be put to the
House's four factions next week.

Hamzah said the bill was the most feasible move to make to
enable members to exercise their numerous rights to control the
executive.

He refused to disclose the plan's details, but said that it
comprised procedural changes concerning the House's rights to
take initiatives, question government policies and conduct
investigations. All the rights are guaranteed by the 1945
Constitution.

He said the political factions in the House never reached
agreement on any bills initiated by a certain faction due to the
complicated procedures.

According to the House's 19-year-old internal rules, such a
bill requires support from at least two factions before it can be
brought before a House plenary session for discussion.

"Just obtaining support is a tough job. Why should it be so
difficult for the House to consider a bill initiated by one of
the party factions?" Hamzah complained.

Legislator Budi Hardjono of the Indonesian Democratic Party
welcomed the plan, but refused to predict a coalition between the
two minor parties.

"We are considering drawing up a similar proposal, and so are
other factions," Budi said.

He said the current internal rules, introduced in 1978, have
served only to keep the legislators powerless vis--vis the
government. "The rules ensure a bureaucratic House, in which
legislators do not have the chance to show their worth," he said.

Funding

Budi insisted, however, that modified internal rules would not
guarantee a more representative House.

"House activities are also curtailed by limited funds and
insufficient professional human resources to match the
government," he said.

Budi complained that the House lacks experts and specialists
to supply the legislators with information.

"There are still many House members who rarely turn up for
hearings," Budi said when asked about the quality of legislators.

He also called for the House to be provided with adequate
financial resources to broaden its perspective. "We don't even
have the funds to carry out comparative studies abroad, as is the
case with government officials," he said.

Budi said that all efforts to empower the House must involve
the government.

"This is because our constitution is heavily tilted in favor
of the executive, as many experts of administrative law have
indicated," he said.

Krissantono, of the dominant Golkar faction, said that
changing the House's internal rules would probably happen, but
suggested they be made into a law binding the House and the
government together.

Commenting on the House's inability to exercise its right to
create law, he proposed a middle way.

"It's difficult for the House to make the government endorse
its bills which deal with political issues. Instead, the House
should work on bills with less political content, on issues such
as consumer protection," he said.

The House still has 69 bills to deliberate before it completes
its five-year term this September. All came from the government.
(amd)