Regional representatives of MPR to be appointed by KPU

JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives agreed on Thursday to let the yet-to-be-established National Election Committee (KPU) appoint the People's Consultative Assembly members for the regional and societal groupings.

The House's working committee deliberating the bill on the structure and function of the legislatures reasoned that it would be impossible for the current House and provincial legislatures to appoint regional representatives and members from societal groups for the next People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

"The only appropriate alternative is that regional and societal group representatives in the next Assembly be appointed by the election committee with endorsement by the President," he said after a committee session on Thursday.

He said the national committee would set objective criteria of eligible candidates, and be objective in selecting the candidates. The President would not be allowed to interfere in the process, he added.

The working committee also agreed with the draft law clause stipulating that regional representatives be appointed by the DPR while MPR members representing groups in society be appointed by provincial legislative councils. This law will take effect in time for the 2004 general election.

The working committee, which was deliberating the draft law on general elections, agreed that all legislative candidates in the next general election be obliged to make a public announcement regarding their assets. An audit would also be conducted before the end of their tenure.

Aminullah Ibrahim, chairman of the working committee, said: "Legislators of the next House must be free from corruption, collusion and nepotism."

The draft law also requires the House to establish a special body to monitor the enforcement of a code of ethics for legislators, he said.

He added that the election committee had the authority to examine all legislative candidates proposed by political parties.

The factions on the working committee were divided over the implementation of the proportional electoral system.

The Armed Forces (ABRI) and Golkar factions proposed the open party list (proportional) system be at regency and mayoralty level while the United Development Party and Indonesian Democratic Party factions wanted the system implemented at provincial level. (rms)