Robert Go, Jakarta – Dr Amien Rais, house speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), chastised legislators for skipping parts of their annual meeting and spending their days watching television in their posh hotel rooms.

He told reporters on Monday: "They should be more introspective; they are well paid and have been given tickets to come here and good hotel rooms, all at taxpayers' expense. But now they're relaxing in their rooms, watching movies. I am terribly disappointed."

But Dr Amien further argued that the lack of discipline exhibited by MPR members is simply a reflection of each legislator's sense of integrity and morality. Sanctions could not be imposed on the members, he said.

On Sunday, the third day of the MPR's 10-day meeting, almost half of the 695-strong assembly took the day off.