State secretary critical of presidency bill

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

State Secretary Bambang Kesowo questioned on Monday the content of the presidency bill that the House of Representatives (DPR) submitted to the President in December 2001, saying that most of the stipulations in the draft have been set out in the Constitution.

Bambang told the House's Commission I for security and state secretariat affairs on Monday that the draft also curtailed some of the authority of the president.

"Limitations on the power of the president will decrease the effectiveness of the government in carrying out its duties," Bambang opined.

He took particular issue with the stipulation in the bill that required the president to secure an approval from the House before deciding on the number of ministries he or she would have.

"That is definitely the authority of the executive body (the president). This (intervention) will only create problems," Bambang said.

Bambang was referring to Article 17 of the bill which states that the president has the authority to form, merge and dissolve ministries, but only after approval from the House.

Legislator Aisyah Aminy of the United Development Party (PPP), however, defended the provision, saying the stipulation was aimed at preventing a sudden dissolution of a ministry.

Former president Abdurrahman Wahid dissolved the ministries of information and social affairs in 1999 as part of efforts to stop the government from interfering with the lives of citizens.

Bambang, however, argued that the existence of certain ministries was dependent on the country's needs.

"Whether or not the president disbands the ministry of women's empowerment, for example, depends on the situation," he stated.

The bill also makes it clear that the president or vice president was not allowed to receive donations of more than Rp 25 million (currently around US$2,900).

Also during the hearing, Aisyah Aminy pointedly remarked that the House had submitted 14 bills to the President, but she had not yet responded to them.

Some of those bills were submitted in early 2002, languishing at the State Secretariat for two years.

Bills at the State Secretariat

No. Bills Date of Submission

1. Postal Affairs Dec. 16, 2003

2. Witness and Victim Protection Sept. 18, 2003

3. Discrimination Eradication Sept. 18, 2003

4. Ombudsman Sept. 18, 2003

5. Fisheries July 9 , 2003

6. Batam Free Trade Zone Jan. 20 , 2003

7. Sports Sept. 27, 2002

8. Migrant Workers Protection May 27, 2003

9. Domestic Violence May 27, 2003

10. National Health Insurance July 14, 2003

11. Bank Credit June 9, 2002

12. Judicial Commission June 16, 2002

13. West Sulawesi Province Feb. 5, 2002

14. Presidency Dec. 6, 2001

Source: House's Legislation Body