Unsolved articles delay bill talks

Unsolved articles delay bill talks

JAKARTA: The House of Representatives (DPR) and the government
on Wednesday agreed to delay the deliberation of a bill on
procedures to make laws and legislations until the next sitting
period, scheduled to start on April 12.

They decided to delay the deliberation after failing to reach
a consensus on three contentious articles.

"We decide to delay the deliberation because we don't have
enough time to settle the contention," House's Commission II for
law and domestic affairs chairman Agustin Teras Narang said after
more than one hour of closed-door lobbying.

The current session will close on Friday. Legislators will
enjoy a month-long recess.

The unsolved articles are -- Article 3 that says that the
Constitution is the fundamental law behind legislations; Article
7 on the hierarchy of laws and legislations; and Article 58 on
the people's participation in the law-making process.

Legislator M. Akil Mochtar said all factions accepted article
58, but the government wanted some changes. - JP