Regional representatives of MPR to be appointed by KPU

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)