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House breaks for early year-end holiday
Sat, 12/20/2008 12:11 PM | National
With New Year's Day less than two weeks away, the House of Representatives went to a monthlong recess Friday after a sitting period of just 25 days.
But the House lawmakers could hold their heads high as they packed their bags for their year-end holiday, because they managed to pass 14 bills during the short sitting spell -- an average of one bill every two days -- including the controversial bill on the Supreme Court, which was passed on Thursday.
On the last sitting day of the year on Friday, the House endorsed two bills on the formation of Maybrat regency in West Papua and of Meranti regency in Riau.
Despite the election year, which will force the politicians to divert much of their time to the legislative and presidential elections, the House plans to debate 35 bills in the final nine months of its term, which ends in September.
House Speaker Agung Laksono said the priority would be given to the bill on the Corruption Court, the revision of the election law, the draft Criminal Code, the bill on natural resources and the bill on government administration.
Skepticism about House politicians' commitment to their legislation duties has been rife in the lead-up to the legislative election in April 2009, as many will be seeking another five-year term.
Agung said the lawmakers were aware of the public's criticism of their legislative performance.
"The public is not the only party that is dissatisfied with the performance of the House in conducting its legislation jobs," Agung said. "We are more disappointed with our performance than the people are."
He said the leaders of the House had taken various measures to help individual lawmakers improve their capacity, including by providing more expert staff.
Empowerment of lawmakers will also be pursued through deliberation of the bill on the composition of the House, the People's Consultative Assembly and the Regional Representative Council. -- JP/Irawaty Wardany
What's On
- Festival of India
10/29/2009 12/15/2009 Balai Kartini & Umar Ismail Hall, Jakarta
- Imagemakers of the Future: Photography exhibition
10/10/2009 11/30/2009 Alila Ubud Desa Melinggih Kelod Payangan, Gianyar 80572, Bali - Timeless Change
11/05/2009 12/07/2009 Ganesha Gallery, Four Seasons Hotel Jimbaran, Bali. - Choreography of Colours; Sardono W. Kusumo's first solo painting exhibition
11/12/2009 12/12/2009 vivi yip art room Annexe Ciputra World Marketing Gallery Jalan Prof Satrio Kav 11, Casablanca
David K. — Sat, 12/20/2008 - 2:45pm
I am hoping that during this holiday, each and every DPR member will look at themselves, reevaluate their selfish views, and maybe spend some time traveling into Indonesia not staying in their Menteng homes or going on expensive trips or even hanging out at Malls or theaters and see how the people of Indonesia truly live. How their actions, their choices, if they receive pressure for politically, religious, or bribe related choice they make has an impact on the lives of the people.
The next year will be hard on not just Indonesia but the whole world as we struggle with our re-evaluation of capitalism, greed, and the Global Recession. I understand people's wishes to protect their family and provide to them, but is it good at the expense of the millions of indonesians out there?