Thumbs-up for the MPR

Thumbs-up for the MPR

The term of office of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) -- Indonesia's top lawmaking body -- for 1999 to 2004, led by chairman Amien Rais, ended last Sept. 25. Amien, who failed to advance to the Sept. 20 presidential runoff, said he would resume his career as a professor at the Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada University.

We should give a thumbs-up to the present MPR as it has made history through its phenomenal decision to amend the 1945 Constitution.

The amended Constitution has allowed the Indonesian people to elect their president themselves this year. We should also praise President Megawati Soekarnoputri and the General Elections Commission for this year's peaceful elections.

Amien has said amending the Constitution was a big leap forward for Indonesian democracy. The amended Constitution has given the people the power to control the government. The people are allowed to channel their aspirations through political and non-governmental organizations, associations and even peaceful demonstrations.

The MPR, during its final plenary session recently, issued five decrees, among them a code of ethics for its members. The code, says MPR members must shun corrupt, collusive and nepotistic practices.

The code of ethics, however, is insufficient to combat bad practices if important state institutions do not set a good example to the people. -- Bisnis Indonesia, Jakarta