Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – The House of Representatives (DPR) on Friday closed its session this year with the same old problems – poor legislation achievement and a low attendance record.
At a plenary meeting on Friday, House Speaker Marzuki Alie had to adjourn the meeting for a few hours to meet a quorum held to endorse seven bills on the establishment of new autonomous regencies – a move purported to accelerate developments in those remote areas.
The House's approval of the new bills adds to the list, albeit short, of legislation that lawmakers have completed this year. Of 69 bills to be finished this year, lawmakers managed to complete 25 bills. Of the completed bills, 12 of them are the bills on the establishment of new autonomous regions.
The seven territories that will soon become autonomous regencies are Penukal Abab Lematang Ilir in South Sumatera, Mahakam Ulu in East Kalimantan, Malaka in East Nusa Tenggara, Central Mamuju in West Sulawesi, Banggai Laut in Central Sulawesi, Pulau Taliabu in North Maluku and Kolaka Timur in Southeast Sulawesi.
Last October, the House also endorsed several bills on the establishment of a North Kalimantan Province and four new regencies, including Pangandaran in West Java, Manokwari and Arfak in West Papua and West Pesisir in Lampung.
Although most of the autonomous regions established earlier have not managed to bring prosperity to the locals, lawmakers insist that splitting large administrative areas is the best way to speed up development and boost prosperity.
"We must let people develop their own regions as the central government has failed to reach out to those who live in remote areas," chairman of House Commission II on regional autonomy, Agun Gunandjar Sudarsa, told the plenary meeting to the applause and joyous cheers of a number of residents who came to witness the House's endorsement of their regencies.
Agun emphasized that his commission – together with the Home Affairs Ministry – was still working on proposals for the establishment of seven other autonomous regencies including North Musi Rawas in South Sumatra, North Morowali in Central Sulawesi and four other regencies in Southeast Sulawesi, comprising Central Buton, South Buton, West Muna and Konawe, as well as one of the province's municipalities, Raha.
Lawmakers have been criticized for extravagant proposals for the creation of new autonomous regions without considering the huge budget needed to support the new regencies' or province's administrations administrative affairs.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has told the Home Ministry to review any proposals for the establishment of new regions and to ensure that it will make the people more prosperous.
Aside from poor legislative achievements, lawmakers have become the target of criticism because of their poor attendance. Despite efforts such as the purchase of fingerprint scanners that cost Rp 279 million (US$29,295) to improve attendance, many lawmakers continue to skip meetings.
"The lack of discipline shown by lawmakers have disrupted the bill deliberation," House legislative body (Baleg) chairman Ignatius Mulyono said at a plenary meeting earlier on Thursday.
Ignatius further cited disagreement between legislators and the government on the content of draft bills as another challenge that slowed down the deliberation of bills.
According to Ignatius, the House included 69 bills in its priority list this year, 46 of which were initiated by the House, the another 23 were initiated by the government.
"We have completed deliberating 20 of them, 31 more are still under discussions with the House commissions and three with the Baleg. Meanwhile, we are still drafting 25 bills, which we aim to endorse next year," the Democratic Party politician said.
Among the legislation approved by the House this year are bills on social conflict, higher education, defense, juvenile delinquency, legislative election and micro-economics. Lawmakers will continue to deliberate 31 bills next year, including a bill on nursing and another on medical education.