Jakarta – House of Representatives Speaker Agung Laksono has expressed concern that the number of lawmakers attending plenary sessions and meetings will decrease due to their tight schedules ahead of the legislative elections.
"I am afraid the House's meetings will be empty or just attended by a few lawmakers," he told reporters in Jakarta on Monday.
Agung said the House should follow recent suggestions and announce the names of lawmakers who frequently miss bill deliberation meetings or plenary sessions.
"I think the essence of this idea is good as it will teach lawmakers a lesson about understanding their obligations and duties," said Agung, also deputy chairman of the Golkar Party.
He said lawmakers would be focusing more on getting re-elected, campaigning in their electoral districts and fighting for seats ahead of the April 9, 2009 elections. Their absence in the House, he said, would impact on the effectiveness of meetings.
"The House Speakers will try discussing this issue with the faction heads at the House. We don't want to see lawmakers sacrificing their legislative duties because of election campaigns," he said. "They must remember they are still active lawmakers."
If the faction chairmen agree to the measure, the House would ask the secretariat general to list lawmakers' attendance and submit it to the disciplinary council.
Agung said lawmakers still had 35 bills on their list pending deliberation, including those involving the military and corruption courts. He hoped lawmakers would obey the existing standing order.
Last Friday, the Prosperous Justice Party urged the disciplinary council, comprising of lawmakers, to actively take part in announcing the names of lawmakers who frequently skipped meetings.
Bills passed by House of Representatives in 2008:
1. Ratification of ILO Convention No. 185 concerning the revision of the Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention, 1958
2. Political Parties Law
3. The Use of Chemical Substances and the Ban on Using Chemical Substances for Chemical Weapons Law
4. Legislative Elections for House of Representatives and Regional Legislative Councils Law
5. Information and Electronic Transaction Law
6. Amendment of Law No. 32/2004 on Regional Administration Law
7. Haj Pilgrimage Law
8. Access to Information Law
9. Ratification on Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters
10. Amendment of Law No. 45/2007 on 2008 State Budget Revision
11. Shipping Law 12. Waste Management Law
13. Sharia-based securities Law
14. Micro, Small and Medium-Enterprises Law
15. Sharia Banking Law
16. Amendment of Law No. 7/1983 on Income Tax Law
17. The Republic of Indonesia's Ombudsman Law
18. Ratification of the Charter of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
19. State Ministry Offices Law
20. Eradication of Race and Ethnic Discrimination Law
21. 2009 State Budget Law
22. Presidential and Vice Presidential Election Law
23. State Territory Law
24. Pornography Law
25. Mining Law
26. Social Welfare Law
27. Tourism Law
28. Education Entity Law
29. Supreme Court Law
Source: Justice and Human Rights Ministry, House of Representatives