Camelia Pasandaran & Febriamy Hutapea – As the first legislators directly elected to the House of Representatives were sworn in on Thursday, a number of analysts have expressed doubts.

Most of these doubts center around the potential effectiveness of the new lawmakers, given their links to established political parties, blamed by many for repeated failures to tackle endemic corruption that has taken a heavy toll on the nation.

Furthermore, although more than 70 percent of the old lawmakers were rejected by their respective electorates, nearly 30 percent of these legislators remain in office. Their influence on the newer members does not look to be a positive one, given the House's recent unsatisfactory past.

Another area of concern, analysts warn, is the power of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Democratic Party-led coalition in the House, casting doubt on its role as a check and balance mechanism of the central government, and not simply as a giant, expensive rubber stamp.

Voters made the most of the broom they were able to wield during April's legislative elections, sweeping 71 percent of the lawmakers from office and replacing them with fresh faces from a range of backgrounds.

Hopes that the new legislators would be able to bring change, however, are remote, analysts told the Jakarta Globe, with few likely to have any real clue with what was happening around them – particularly in the short-term.

Sulastio, the director of the Indonesia Parliamentary Center, said that most voters made their selections based on popularity. "[Voters] tended to neglect the capabilities or qualities of the candidates, about whether they know how to draft bills or not."

He said that with low voter awareness of the huge numbers of political parties and candidates, it was guaranteed that unqualified candidates were elected to the House, also known as the DPR.

A number of performing artists, including singers, actors and comedians (real ones), were elected to office, as were a number of faces linked to the families of powerful politicians, including the son and brother-in-law of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, among many others.

Sulastio, speaking generally, said he believed the novice politicians would need at least a year before they would be in a position to be able to do their jobs.

Among the members sworn in on Thursday, nearly one in three won reelection, a cause for concern in some quarters given the track record of the previous House, which had a reputation for corruption, absenteeism and a lack of professionalism.

"The new members will easily learn the bad habits of the old members, including falling asleep during meetings or not even turning up," said Andrinof Chaniago, a political expert from the University of Indonesia.

Andrinof said political parties had the responsibility of implementing rigorous regulations that members had to abide by.

"Political parties should train them to behave like lawmakers," he said. "The parties are responsible for changing their lawmakers' behavior so they will learn to be responsible."

Andinof was referring to the proclivity of most members of the House to avoid attending even the most important sessions convened to pass urgent legislation, and even getting other members to sign their names in the attendance book.

Corruption has been another major complaint, with a number of recent cases highlighting the depths of graft within the institution, which is perceived as one of Indonesia's most corrupt bodies.

Andrinof said that imposing strict rules for the new members was a must. "Meanwhile, since most of them have limited knowledge, there should be effort to enhance the support system," he said. "They should be provided with good expert staff to upgrade their knowledge."

The power of the Democratic Party and its ruling coalition also was a cause for concern among analysts, with many fearing that the House's theoretical function to check the power of the executive was being considerably weakened.

"The leading party that also heads the government will be allowed to manage which bills it prioritizes and which bills it delays, as it may be against their political interests," Sulastio said.

"The leading party, as we know, will also likely chair a number of House commissions. Moreover, it also has the support of its coalition parties and will ensure it is unbeatable," he said.

Four Islamic parties, namely the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), National Mandate Party (PAN), National Awakening Party (PKB) and United Development Party (PPP), have joined the coalition, with the Golkar Party expected to also join the fold.

Sulastio said the bloc would weaken the House's ability to supervise legislation and government budgeting. "The Democratic faction in the House will automatically decide based on the party's preference," he said.

"However, House members are public representatives. Being critical to the government is needed, instead of just nodding to all government policies. Without it, the House will be a total failure in carrying out the function of checks and balances."

The Democratic Party, however, rejected any suggestions that its dominance spelled the beginning of a return to the days under former strongman Suharto.

"The fears are too much," said Anas Urbaningrum, the head of the Democratic Party's faction in House. "It's impossible to return to the New Order era. The political configuration and spirit has been changed and civil society has developed."