Watchdog calls for prompt bill debate

JAKARTA: The Independent Committee for Elections Monitoring (KIPP) has urged the House of Representatives (DPR) to quickly form a committee and start deliberating the bill on direct presidential and vice presidential elections.

KIPP coordinator Ray Rangkuti said the sooner the House started deliberation on the bill the more time legislators would have to produce a better law.

"Prolonged debate during deliberation will affect preparations for the elections," Rangkuti said during a hearing with deputy House Speaker Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno here on Wednesday.

He also offered to revise some articles in the bill which he considered to be discriminative.

In response to the demand, Soetardjo -- who was accompanied by legislators Isac Latuconsina, Syaiful Rachman, and Nyoman Gunawan -- said that the House would establish the committee on Thursday. - JP