Anita Rachman & Markus Junianto Sihaloho – With Tuesday's passage of the House of Representatives' new code of ethics, lawmakers are no longer allowed to visit brothels and casinos, unless the visit is for official purposes.

The new code passed by the House plenary consists of 16 chapters dealing with accountability, transparency and integrity. It states that lawmakers are prohibited from using their position to seek privileges and benefits, whether for themselves or their families.

They are also not allowed to establish relationships with their working partners with the intention of asking for money or gifts. The new code of ethics even regulates lawmakers' dress code, stating that in doing their job, House members must dress neatly and appropriately.

Nudirman Munir, deputy chairman of the House Ethics Council, said the new regulation is aimed at making legislators role models for citizens.

For instance, one article says, "An Indonesian legislative assembly member is forbidden from entering places that are considered inappropriate in terms of ethics, morals and norms prevailing in society, such as places of prostitution and gambling." It left room for an exception, though: "Except for the interest of their duties as members of the House of Representatives."

Nudirman said legislators whose working commission deals with social, women's or health affairs are expected to visit "places of immorality" to supervise the work of the ministries involved.

"Some lawmakers often go on sudden inspection trips when the Health Ministry is working on AIDS prevention in prostitution areas. Such activities will be permitted," he said. "Commission III, overseeing legal affairs, could also visit casinos to supervise the work of law enforcers."

Such tasks usually must be approved by the House leadership, and they must always be carried out with multiple lawmakers, he said. "If any legislators come to the locations individually, it can be suspected the lawmaker might have a bad intention and can be reported to the Ethics Council," Nudirman said.

He also said the rules would not apply during campaign periods, when lawmakers often individually visit such areas to establish rapport with constituents. "During election campaigns, lawmakers do not need any permit from House leaders," he said.

Eva Kusuma Sundari, a lawmaker from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), said some lawmakers, especially those in Commission IX, which oversees health and women's affairs, often need to visit prostitution areas. "As an example, they need to supervise the government's program to prevent venereal disease," she said.

She also criticized the ethics code, saying the issues addressed are largely obvious. "I think all lawmakers know that we should never go there with the intention of violating the law," she said.

The new code has been questioned by a number of nongovernmental organizations because a number of articles from the previous code were left out.

The Ethics Council has maintained that the new code would be sufficient to keep lawmakers in check, saying anything omitted was already covered by existing laws.