Short-lived DPR says goodbye at deserted lunch
Short-lived DPR says goodbye at deserted lunch
JAKARTA (JP): The customary farewell hosted by President B.J.
Habibie for outgoing legislators this year turned out to be a
somewhat cheerless half-empty affair.
Only about half of the 500-member House of Representatives
(DPR) attended the luncheon in the State Palace grounds.
A special marquee had been set up for the event. Little did
Palace officials know that it would only be half full.
As many tables remained empty, in an unusual move, Palace
officials warmly welcomed journalists to occupy the seats and
enjoy the lunch.
The tardy arrival of several legislators delayed Habibie from
delivering his speech by about 30 minutes.
"Let me convey my apologies to all members of the House for my
shortcomings or mistakes," said the President to his invited
guests, most of whom seemed more interested in the lunch than his
words.
Even House Speaker Harmoko, as he recounted the House's long
road to reform, strayed away from politics, closing his address
with quips about the importance of lunch.
Friday's menu included Padang and Javanese cuisine and ice
cream.
No reference was made in the formal proceedings of the
mounting death toll resulting from mass protests over House
approval of the controversial state security bill.
After the lunch, Habibie shook hands with his guests.
Several legislators were heard whispering in jest to each
other: "Is a handshake alone enough to say goodbye?"
The President had originally planned to award the outgoing
legislators several million rupiah each as an expression of
gratitude for their service. However a public uproar forced the
government to shelve the proposal.
Appeal
The House quaintly ended its two-year term earlier on Friday
with an appeal to new legislators to put public interests above
all else, and maintain a critical stance during formulation of
the nation's laws.
In his address to the House's last plenary session, speaker
Harmoko said the government had to have the courage to make
substantial changes to government-sponsored bills in order to
avoid conflict and tension stemming from public discontent.
"The House's phenomenal stance to adopt such strict principles
was visible in the deliberation of various bills we completed
recently," Harmoko claimed.
Harmoko proudly said that during its short term, the House
passed 69 bills. Most were sponsored by the government.
The bills included one on human rights, the telecommunications
bill, the forestry bill, the press bill and the bill on Aceh's
special autonomy status.
One bill which Harmoko lamented could not be passed in time
was the oil and gas bill.
He noted that the House had completed nearly 90 percent of the
bill's substance. "It's a shame now that all that deliberation
will probably go to waste"
Overall he expressed satisfaction at the proceedings of the
House.
"Although not optimal, the way the House has worked is worth
appreciating. Amid the dynamic reform drive which began rolling
in May last year, the House has produced a number of laws which
are in line with people's aspirations," Harmoko said.
Harmoko, also speaker at the People's Consultative Assembly
(MPR), recollected the MPR November Special Session which
confirmed the mandate given to B.J. Habibie to preside over the
country following Soeharto's resignation six months earlier.
He failed to mention that the same MPR had unanimously
reappointed Soeharto as president for a sixth term.
At the Special Session, the MPR endorsed two key decrees which
were expected to justify legal measures against former president
Soeharto over his alleged corruption and power abuses during his
32 years in office. Investigations into the now ailing former
ruler currently hang in the balance.
Harmoko was one of the prominent political leaders who helped
ouster his former patron Soeharto. He served under the former
strongman as minister of information from 1983 to 1997. (amd/prb)