Susilo hindering House's performance: Legislators

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.