Hasyim Widhiarto – Members of the House of Representatives are apparently so preoccupied with vested interests and unnecessary political bickering that they have left the deliberations of many crucial bills far behind schedule.
According to the House legislative committee, legislators were only able to endorse 14 bills into law last year – far below the 70 bills targeted. This year the House aims to pass 60 bills.
Lawmakers have set a target of passing 247 bills during their tenure between 2009 and 2014.
The unremitting friction within President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's frail coalition camp has had a great deal to do with creating barriers to the passing of bills into law.
Although part of the coalition camp, the Golkar Party and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) have both been widely blamed for impairing the government policy-making process intended to supplement capacity.
The seven-month debacle over the Bank Century special committee early last year, for example, had drained the resources of both the government and the legislators in trying to pass several important legislative items vital to economic and financial stability.
Among the bills included one on financial safety nets that should establish the protocol for managing crises in the financial sector. Another important bill regards the financial services authority. Both bills have been delayed for more than two years.
The House and the government have also failed to pass several long-awaited bills and legal revisions on the civil service that would ultimately reform the country's notorious bureaucracy.
The bills, which are expected to help smooth business processes and lure more investment, have been left on the back burner for six years.
Charta Politika Indonesia political analyst Yunarto Wijaya believes unnecessary political bickering and attempts by legislators to create additional special committees would bring no significant benefits to the public. "It will only affect the House's ability to productively pass laws," he said.
A special committee will necessitate more than six months of intense questioning and investigation. Their conclusions land only a few steps away from the President, who would ultimately be held accountable. Under the worst circumstances, their conclusions could potentially lead to the removal of the President.
Legislators, however, have insisted that such special committees are part of their authority to "control the government" and will not impair their main task of producing necessary laws, albeit indefinite delays.
"The committees are a part of our supervisory duty towards the government, and, of course we are trying to make it balance with our duty to pass laws and control the state budget," said PKS legislator Kemal Azis Stamboel.
Kemal pledged that both his party and the House Commission XI for financial affairs would extend all efforts to fulfill their duties.
Despite being overwhelmed with important unfinished bills, Commission XI and Commission III for justice and legal affairs have formed an initiative to pass a special committee on tax mafia.
Several Bills under the auspices of Commission III for justice and legal affairs1. Revision of Law No 26/2000 on the Human Rights Tribunal
2. Revision of Law No 16/2004 on the Attorney General's Office
3. Revision of Law No. 14/1985 on the Supreme Court.
4. Revision of the Criminal Code Law.
5. Revision of Law No 22/2004 on the Judicial Committee
Several Bills under the auspices of Commission XI for Financial affairs1. Bill on financial safety nets that should establish the protocol for managing crises in the financial sector.
2. Bill on a financial services authority for independent supervision of banks and financial services.
3. Revision of Law No. 8/1985 on Capital Markets.
4. Revision of Law No. 11/1992 on pension funds.
5. Revision of Law No. 2/1992 on insurance.
[Source: Justice and Human Rights Ministry.]