Threat of constitutional deadlock increases
Threat of constitutional deadlock increases
Kurniawan Hari and
Fitri Wulandari
The Jakarta Post
Jakarta
The threat of a deadlock in the fourth phase of constitutional
amendments at the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) increased
in seriousness on Friday when a number of legislators revealed
that the move to thwart the amendment was backed by nearly one-
third of the MPR members.
Siti Hartati Murdaya of the Interest Groups faction (FUG) said
that 206 legislators had expressed opposition to the amendment.
Bambang Pranoto of PDI Perjuangan, however, claimed the number
was 222.
"The number will rise because we expect more support from
fellow legislators," Hartati told The Jakarta Post by phone.
Both PDI Perjuangan and Interest Groups factions have strong
reasons to reject the amendment process, which puts them at a
political disadvantage.
The FUG's presence at the Assembly will be scrapped if the
fourth amendment is endorsed in the ongoing Annual Session. PDI
Perjuangan, meanwhile, has campaigned for a delay in the
implementation of direct presidential elections until 2009.
Hartati said that of the 206 legislators, 104 were from PDI
Perjuangan, 59 from the Interest Groups, and another 43 from the
National Awakening Party (PKB).
Bambang Pranoto presented a different figure, saying of the
222 legislators, 107 came from his PDI Perjuangan, 63 from the
Interest Groups and 52 from PKB.
Legislators continued their campaign to postpone the
constitutional amendment at a plenary meeting on Friday.
Syahrul Azwir Matondang of PDI Perjuangan warned the Assembly
that the amendment process would backfire if they continued,
saying the amendment was "out of proportion".
Assembly Speaker Amien Rais expressed concern over the
significant number of MPR members opposing the amendment, saying
it was a very important issue that must be seriously taken into
account.
Amien added that if the number of legislators supporting the
amendment was less than two-thirds of the total number of
Assembly members, the amendment process could not be continued.
"Let's wait and see," he said.
According to the 1945 Constitution on amendments, an amendment
can proceed only if it is supported by at least two-thirds of the
Assembly members.
Based on data issued by the Assembly's Secretariat, the actual
number of MPR members is 674. It means that at least 448
legislators have to attend a plenary meeting to endorse the
fourth phase of amendments.
If the maneuver to block the amendment wins the support of
more legislators, possibly from the 38-strong Indonesian
Military/Police faction, the amendment will be stalled.
Meanwhile, PKB legislator Ida Fauziah denied claims that
members of the PKB faction supported the move to block the
amendment.
"We must differentiate between the action of PKB and that of
other factions," Fauziah told the Post, referring to PDI
Perjuangan and Interest Groups factions.
According to Fauziah, PKB members had signed a petition to
push for the setting up of a constitutional commission, not to
foil the amendment.
The Indonesian Military/National Police faction also
reaffirmed its stance to fully support the amendment and for the
establishment of a constitutional commission.
"We still want the amendment process to continue," Slamet
Supriyadi, head of the TNI/Police faction at the Assembly, told
reporters on Friday.
He guaranteed that none of his faction members would sign the
petition to reject the amendment. "I assure you that not one of
our members will sign (the petition) to reject the amendment."
PDI Perjuangan faction members Jakob Tobing, Meilono Suwondo,
and JE Sahetapy expressed concern over the move to foil the
endorsement of the amendment, which could lead to a deadlock.
Jakob said that PDI Perjuangan leader Megawati Soekarnoputri
had repeatedly called on all faction members to support the
constitutional amendment.
"There was a clear message for all members to continue with
the amendment. I don't think this is a serious problem," Jakob
said.
Sahetapy, meanwhile, said the maneuver indicated that
legislators were feigning intelligence and were ignoring the
aspirations of others.
Meilono had a different view, saying that the maneuver was a
result from the indecisiveness of Megawati.
"She (Megawati) is so weak. She allows conflicting opinions to
develop," Meilono charged.
Megawati's husband, Taufik Kiemas, is among the signatories to
the petition against the amendment.
--------------------------------------------------------------
No. Factions Votes For amendment Against
---------------------------------------------------------------
1. PDI Perjuangan 175 68 107
2. Golkar 146 146 0
3. PPP 64 64 0
4. PKB 52 52 0
5. Reform 46 46 0
6. PBB 12 12 0
7. KKI 11 11 0
8. PDU 10 10 0
9. PDKB 5 5 5
10. Military/Police 38 38 0
11. Interest Groups 63 0 63
12. Regional Reps 52 52 0
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Total 674 504 170