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