Jakarta – The House of Representatives decided to include a controversial bill on a tax amnesty in its 2015 National Legislation Program (Prolegnas) during a plenary session on Tuesday.

After the plenary session, deputy chairman of the House's Legislation Body (Baleg), Firman Subagyo, said that given that the sitting session would wrap up later this week, lawmakers had agreed to start deliberating the bill next year.

"The House and the government will sit together to discuss a draft of the bill in the future," Firman told reporters at the legislative complex on Tuesday.

The plenary session made the decision despite protests from a number of political party factions demanding the legislative body not rush its decision.

Both the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) earlier rejected the House's plan on the tax amnesty bill, claiming that it could create legal uncertainty in the country's law enforcement system.

The House has shrugged off the criticism. "We should not bow to public pressure because the House works based on the law and the bill was agreed to by the House and government a long time ago," Firman said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/12/16/national-scene-house-proposes-tax-amnesty-law.html