Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta, Indonesia – On Tuesday, the House of Representative launched a fingerprint scanner system to record the attendance of lawmakers.

Nine scanners, one for each party faction, are tidily arranged on tables at the House's plenary room to register lawmakers attending meetings. Although some lawmakers applauded the use of such scanners, some others object the use of Rp 279 million (US$29,295) worth machines.

Lawmaker Saleh Husein from the People's Conscience Party (Hanura), for example, said that he felt that he was being treated like a factory laborer. "But, I must submit to it because the House as an institution has agreed to implement such policy," he said.

Tubagus Hasanuddin from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) on the other hand applauded the use of finger prints saying that it would force lawmakers to come to office.

However, the House must publicly announce the presence of lawmakers to give "social punishment" for those who are lazy, he said.

"To force lawmakers to come [to the office] with the scanners is one thing. To educate them with self discipline and responsibility is another thing," he said. (iwa)