Susilo hindering House's performance: Legislators
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
Legislators implied on Wednesday that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono held them back in bill deliberations by deferring the issuance of a decree on coordination between the House of Representatives and the government in the lawmaking process.
"We hope this (issuance of the presidential decree) is part of the first 100-day program of the new government," legislator Djuhad Mahja from the United Development Party (PPP) said on Wednesday at a hearing with Minister of Justice and Human Rights Hamid Awaluddin.
Under Law No. 10/2004 on legislative process, the president must issue a decree prioritizing bills before the House can set its deliberation schedule.
Susilo, who was inducted into office on Oct. 20, has yet to issue the decree, so the House cannot start any deliberations.
The House Legislative Body said earlier that lawmakers would still debate with the government on priority bills in January, and deliberations could only take place after the discussions.
Legislator Andi Mattalatta of the Golkar Party suggested on Wednesday that the government would also provide its reasons for prioritizing particular bills. According to the Constitution, the House has jurisdiction over legislation, but also rules that the government must approve all laws for enactment.
Law No. 10/2004 also declares that bill deliberations must follow the National Legislation Program (Prolegnas), which is to be prepared jointly by the House and the government.
Discussion on the Prolegnas also cannot commence, pending the issuance of the presidential decree.
The Prolegnas is designed to coordinate state institutes in drawing up bills on various issues.
During Wednesday's hearing, justice minister Hamid disclosed that the government was still discussing the content of the presidential decree.
"Although the legislation process involves two parties, the House and the government, we hope it can be conducted in a harmonious and orderly manner," Hamid said.
Meanwhile, legislator Andi said he hoped the legislation program, to be discussed by the government and the House, would promote comprehensive changes to the judiciary.
"The Prolegnas must be based on clear intentions, namely the willingness to launch total reform in the country's legal system," he said.
Andi emphasized that the program must not only consist of bills to be brought for deliberation in the House, but must also thoroughly delineate the reasoning behind the prioritization of certain bills over others.
Separately during the hearing, Hamid said the government encouraged the establishment of regional committees that would promote human rights issues and development.
The establishment of regional committees is to support the national action plan on human rights, or RAN-HAM, introduced by the President on Oct. 26.