Presidential election bill pursued

JAKARTA: The government insisted on Friday on submitting a separate bill on presidential elections to the House, arguing that inserting the issue into the electoral bill currently being deliberated by legislators would slow down the passage of the political reform bills.

Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno said that general elections and presidential elections were too different issues, and "inserting the presidential election material into the electoral bill currently being debated would only serve to distract legislators."

"The proposal to insert material on presidential elections into the electoral bill is based on the consideration that the bill will be deliberated more effectively as the House has already set up a special commission.

"But if they agree to insert it, the deliberation of the bill will be delayed as the House will have to return the draft to us (the government) for revisions," Hari said.

Hari, nevertheless, said the government would leave the decision to House leaders.

Legislators sitting on the House special commission differ on the question of presidential elections. Some legislators are insisting that the material on presidential elections be incorporated in the electoral bill that the government has submitted. --JP