Jakarta – Legislators questioned a plan to construct a new House building, while protesters threw pamphlets on them during the first session after a month-long recess at a half-empty House of Representatives on Monday.

House Speaker Marzuki Alie opened the new session at around 10 a.m., but many of the seats designated for House members were empty.

Marzuki addressed several issues in his speech, including bills, junkets, and rising radicalism among the nation's youth. He referred to public concern about the Islamic State of Indonesia (NII) group, which has been in the spotlight recently for recruiting university students.

House members applauded Marzuki when he said, "Pancasila and the Republic of Indonesia are the basis and the final form of our country."

Then, when Marzuki finished his speech, several House members raised their hands to speak on crucial matters.

A legislator from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Maruarar Sirait, immediately drew Marzuki into a debate about the construction of the new House building.

Maruarar asked the speaker to explain why a press briefing had been informed that the PDI-P had agreed to the construction of the new building. Maruarar, who is usually called Ara, said his party's representatives had walked out of the consultation meeting that approved the new building on April 8.

"However, it was then announced that seven factions agreed to the construction, including the PDI-P, and two factions opposed it. I'd like the speaker to clarify this. My party stands strongly for postponing the construction," Ara said.

Marzuki replied, "The House speaker did not announce the deal on the new building's construction, but the deputy leader of the House did. I will ask the House secretariat general to produce evidence that the PDI-P took part in the decision-making."

The new building debate has dominated national politics since the beginning of the year. At one point, the budget proposed for the project was Rp 1.8 trillion (US$210.6 million), but was later reduced to Rp 1.1 trillion after a public outcry.

Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto said on Monday that the latest plan for the new building required a budget of Rp 800 billion, kompas.com reported. The slimer budget, he said, was achieved by cutting down the height of the building and cutting out the swimming pool.

Nudirman Munir from the Golkar Party said the new building was necessary because most legislators had to work in cramped office conditions.

"We legislators have to queue for many things – sitting, eating, filing and even going to the toilet," he said. "Please ask the secretariat general to take a look at the spacious offices of the House leaders and compare them to the 555 legislators' rooms," he said.

As the clock struck midday, a number of people threw postcard-sized pamphlets picturing President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, US President Barack Obama and Finance Minister Agus Martowardojo dining on gold bars from the spectators' balcony. The pamphlets read "Let the people judge. Hand over our gold. West Nusa Tenggara people".

Security and police officers soon apprehended the intruders, covering their mouths with their hands when they began to yell in protest. (rcf)