Vice presidential office circular annoys House

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.