Regional representatives push for independent faction
JAKARTA (JP): The 130 regional representatives from 27 provinces gathered on Friday to express their determination to set up an independent faction at the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) despite its earlier termination by the Assembly.
The proposal to establish the faction will be formally brought to the annual MPR General Session scheduled for August.
"The Assembly is expected to accept the proposal because it is an agreement reached by all regional representatives," Jusuf Kalla, who presided over a meeting of regional representatives, said on Friday.
Almost all regional representatives expressed deep disappointment, if not resentment, with the Assembly's recent decision to phase out their faction and integrate them into political parties' factions.
They contended that the presence of a regional representative faction at the Assembly was guaranteed by the 1945 Constitution.
"We are very deeply concerned over the phase-out of the regional representative faction. It is quite ironic that during the three week MPR General Session, the 135 regional representatives did nothing. We came here to represent our own regions but we have no organization or faction through which we can channel our aspirations," said Frans, representing Irian Jaya.
He said it was illogical for political parties, whose main agenda was to forward their constituents' aspirations, to address at the same time the particular political interests of the regions.
"The presence of a regional representative faction is truly needed to represent the regions' interests at the Assembly," he said.
The Assembly decided through an overwhelming vote to integrate regional representatives into political party factions.
Abu Hasan, representing Jambi, said he discussed the matter with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and claimed that the party gave him general support for the idea of a regional representative faction.
Oesman Sapta, representing West Kalimantan, asserted that the phase-out of the regional representative faction was engineered by certain political parties to bolster their numbers for the presidential election.
"It's a strange phenomenon to observe since most regional representatives who proposed and supported the phase-out of regional representative factions just weeks ago now demand the establishment of a separate faction after the presidential election," he said without naming who the people were.
"This means regional representatives were exploited to gain support for political party candidates in the presidential election. This is a serious violation of the Constitution," he said.
The 130 regional representatives during the General Session of the Assembly were integrated into six political party factions and the interest group faction.
The Golkar Party of Reform faction received more than half with 62 regional representatives joining the faction.
The PDI Perjuangan faction received 32 regional representatives, followed by the United Development faction with the third highest number of 12.
Regional representatives were actually allotted 135 seats in the Assembly, with five representatives per province. However, due to the situation in East Timor, regional representatives from there were left vacant.
Amir Luthfi from Riau said regional representatives should have their own faction to improve their bargaining position at the Assembly in fighting for their region's aspirations.
"Amid the disadvantageous situation with the increasing demand for several provinces' independence, the presence of a regional representative faction is urgently needed to play its role as a bridge between regions and the central government," he said.
He further argued that in line with the Constitution, the Assembly should consist of a lower house and regional representatives.
"Similar to the U.S. Congress in the American legislative system which has a senate and a lower house, the Assembly should comprise a House of Representatives and regional representatives," he said.
Both Syarwan Hamid and Fahmi Idris representing Riau hailed the regional representatives' agreement, saying the faction would play an active role in implementing regional autonomy.
Syarwan, also a former home affairs minister, said the planned faction would be able to improve its role in promoting regional autonomy and in making negotiations on the financial balance between regions and the central government. (rms/05)