Surabaya legislative body educates itself for more autonomy

Surabaya legislative body educates itself for more autonomy

By Sirikit Syah

SURABAYA (JP): There are always excuses. "This is a transition
period and most local legislators don't have the experience."
Hence legislators are always excused if they make odd statements,
draw wrong conclusions, or make lousy plans. They were also
excused when they reelected the controversial city mayor.

Many Surabayans were left wondering who actually chose the
unpopular city mayor for a second term last month.

Soenarto is notorious for the city flood disaster and was
recently sued by the Indonesian Environmental Forum (WALHI) for
destroying the city's environment.

"Who elected him? The city council (DPRD)? Who were they
representing?" These questions were heard on campuses, in street
stalls, three-wheeled public bemo and buses.

In anticipating protests, the installment ceremony was tightly
guarded. Soenarto reportedly pledged he would make the country's
second largest city secure, ensure there were no hungry residents
by increasing rice contributions, step up efforts against school
drop-outs and help to increase religious resilience as a shield
against drug abuse in his constituency.

The case of the mayor's election raised questions whether --
under regional autonomy -- the local legislative body would
become so powerful that it would no longer need to listen to its
constituents.

Under the new law the local legislative bodies (DPRD) have
more power than they had previously towards regional heads of
government; a change reflecting people's desire to do away with
rubber stamp representative bodies.

But how would they manage such authority when Jakarta was no
longer running everything? On the other hand, the larger freedom
of the local legislators has exposed their self-acknowledged dire
lack of expertise and experience.

"This is the common disease of any transition period, they
have a lot of excuses," Aribowo, a political observer from
Airlangga University, said. The sense that the elected
representatives do not represent the constituents may be partly
blamed on the electoral system.

"Some DPRD members do not feel attached to the people because
the election wasn't part of a district system. They are more
attached to, and very much influenced by, the party, not the
people."

The 1998 election combined the proportional and district
systems, with the result that the central board of political
parties still determined their candidates for local legislative
bodies. An executive of the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), complained that "good" cadres lost out
and did not get enough seats.

So the local legislators "soon became state symbols," Aribowo
said. "No matter what people say, they can just ignore them."

He cited the example of the salary raise of DPRD members in
East Java. Despite heavy criticism in the media and public polls
questioning the legislators' performance, along with their
insensitivity to the hardships of the voting public, the decision
to raise their salary by 40 percent went through with little
problem.

Allocation of the provincial budget, Aribowo said, was also an
area which exposed legislators' shortcomings.

"It is always how many percent for you and how many percent
for me. It shouldn't be like that. DPRD must have a clear concept
in their program plan and budgeting to enable an optimal use of
the budget," Aribowo said.

High expectations of legislators would be more realistic
following the next election, he said.

"Tight selection within the party would offer better results.
The more rational the party is the better the impact would be in
recruitment of DPRD members."

Budi Darma, a noted artist and lecturer at Surabaya State
University, said that the transition period towards establishing
a more credible legislative body should not be too long.

"It would be a joke if they needed to adjust themselves for
five years," he said. He insisted that legislators seek self
improvement by educating themselves.

"The executives now are more well informed and well prepared
in their respective fields, while DPRD members are newcomers in
their professions and have no background on the executives and
their related responsibilities, which legislators must control
and evaluate," Budi Darma said.

He suggested that the DPRD recruit consultants in various
disciplines.

"If it's too expensive for every legislator to have an expert
staff, they could have one in every commission. He or she could
be a vital resource in equipping legislators with necessary
background information."

Special committees in the legislative bodies also should have
such consultants, he said.

Aribowo said pressure from the public, including students,
artists, non-government organizations, the media and
intellectuals, would encourage legislators to learn.

"We should all watch them. That's one way to push them to be
professionals," he said.

Actually education is a priority at the Surabaya legislative
council. "Any member who wants to continue his or her study will
be supported," explained H. Herman, the council's deputy speaker.
It is not that most members have low level of education.

"The press and the people have the wrong perception that we
are not educated people. About 85 percent of Surabaya DPRD
members are university graduates," Herman said.

By supporting further education, Herman was referring to
postgraduate education, workshops and short courses such as in
banking and the law.

"We know we must prepare ourselves," he added. "We admit that
the executives have been there for some time, so they know what
they are doing and talking about."

Herman said that experts were in a number of commissions and
special committees with whom legislators could consult.

The special committee on land cases, chaired by Herman, works
with experts on drafting regulations. The committee also files
reports to the police where necessary.

"So far reports to the mayor have only resulted in concerned
officials like district and subdistrict heads being transfered
without any further punishment."

DPRD Surabaya also works with universities and non-government
organizations. Despite the lack of experience and knowledge
compared to government officials, Herman is convinced that the
adjustment would not take too much time.

"No, not the entire five years of our term. In one year, I
promise you, we'll be perfectly adjusted."

The writer is a Surabaya-based journalist.