Vice presidential office circular annoys House

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A vice presidential office circular criticizing recent hearings between the government and the House of Representatives has received a strong reaction from legislators, who said it could harm relations between the two state institutions.

The circular, which was signed by vice presidential office secretary Prijono Tjiptoherijanto and issued on Dec. 27, said the hearings between the House and the government were often filled with disproportional statements aimed at discrediting the government. It was circulated among Cabinet members and heads of government agencies and institutions.

The circular also claimed that legislators often ignored the government's answers to questions they asked.

House Speaker Agung Laksono demanded that the government clarify the circular immediately to avoid creating tension between the executive and legislative bodies.

"The circular could disrupt relations between the government and the House. It needs immediate clarification from the government," he said after a three-hour meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to discuss the planned reconstruction of tsunami-hit areas in Aceh and North Sumatra here on Tuesday.

Agung did not receive a copy of the circular but said he was shocked when Alvin Lie, a legislator of the National Mandate Party (PAN), raised the issue at a consultative meeting.

"I regret it (the circular). The circular has belittled the House and could harm the relations between the government and the House. However, the President has promised to settle the issue immediately," Agung said.

Agung doubted that Vice President Jusuf Kalla was behind the circular's issuance, although according to Prijono the evaluation was based on a briefing by the Vice President.

Separately, legislator Alvin Lie said after the meeting that he felt uneasy about the circular, which he said humiliated the House and criticized its performance.

"The circular implies that all hearings at the House are not important and are a waste of time. We, as legislators, are irked by this circular," said Alvin.

Alvin said that although copies of the circular were supposed to be delivered to the President, the Vice President, the Cabinet secretary and ministers, not all had received one.

"The President knew nothing about the circular when I read it (to him) and the Cabinet secretary claimed he had not received a copy," he said.

Having received much criticism about its performance in the past, the legislative body is working hard to repair its tarnished image. For a start, it is instilling discipline among its members. The House's disciplinary committee is currently grilling 10 legislators for skipping three consecutive meetings, a violation of House rules.

Legislator Arifin Panigoro, one of the 10 legislators, recently announced his resignation from the House.