PPP wants government regulations annulled

JAKARTA (JP): The United Development Party (PPP)'s Jakarta chapter and PPP faction on the city council urged the Supreme Court on Wednesday to declare null and void two government regulations that curtail the council's authority over the city's affairs.

PPP Jakarta chapter chairman Djafar Badjeber called a media conference to explain that Government Regulation (PP) No. 108 on the accountability of local administrations and Government Regulation No. 110 on the financing of local legislative councils ran contrary to statute law, particularly Law No. 22/1999 on regional administration.

Djafar told the media conference at the city council building on Wednesday that many articles in both regulations contravened the spirit of regional autonomy.

He claimed that the appointment and dismissal of a regional administration's chief executive and his deputies should fall within the domain of the regional council concerned rather than the President.

Djafar also expressed his disagreement with the intrusion of the State Officials' Wealth Audit Commission (KPKPN) into the local administrations' affairs.

He noted that there was no single law stipulating that the KPKPN should be involved in the appointment or dismissal of a regional administration head.

But, he refused to say whether his appeal to the Supreme Court had something to do with the council's refusal to return the wealth-declaration forms issued by the KPKPN to the councilors.

A battle of words has erupted between KPKPN officials and the councilors over the making public of the councilors' wealth. The KPKPN argues that the councilors are required by law to declare their wealth.

However, the councilors have rejected this argument saying that they are not state officials and therefore are not required to declare their wealth to the KPKPN. (01)