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)