Jakarta – The House of Representatives has dropped an article that was set to ban lawmakers appearing publicly for entertainment purposes. The article was eliminated during a plenary meeting on Tuesday to pass the House's ethics code.

"The House's Ethics Council said that Article 12 point 2, which prohibits lawmakers being involved in advertisements, films and [TV series], should not be included [in the code]," said Ethics Council chairman Surahman Hidayat in the plenary meeting at the House.

Surahman said that the article overlapped with other articles that mandate lawmakers to prioritize their legislative responsibilities and act accordingly.

The meeting also dropped other articles that ban smoking, eating and activating ringtones during meetings. The House also dropped an article that mandates lawmakers to report official travel and associated costs to House leaders.

Several artists and musicians who have been inaugurated as lawmakers are still seen on television, taking advantage of their celebrity status to garner more advertising jobs and reality show roles.

National Mandate Party (PAN) politician Anang Hermansyah, previously known as a music producer and a jury member for a singing competition, came under fire for airing the birth of his child on a free-to-air television channel.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/18/national-scene-house-drops-showbiz-ban-lawmakers.html