TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Jokowi admits preventing ministers from attending House meetings
President Joko âJokowiâ Widodo has admitted that he has prohibited his Cabinet ministers and related officials from attending meetings with House of Representatives lawmakers
Change Size
P
resident Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo has admitted that he has prohibited his Cabinet ministers and related officials from attending meetings with House of Representatives lawmakers.
The President said officials in the new government would attend House meetings only after lawmakers, which were divided into two groups - the Red-and-White Coalition and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) led-coalition - were united.
'[We will attend the meetings] if conflicts at the House have been settled. Moreover, we have been working only for one month, so for what purpose should they invite us?' said Jokowi as quoted by kompas.com at Bogor Palace on Monday.
He said reconciliation between the Red-and-White Coalition and the PDI-P-led coalition was still in process through the revision of Law No.17/2014 on legislative institutions, also known as the MD3 Law.
'Let conflicts at the House be settled first, then we will attend such meetings,' said Jokowi.
Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly did not attend a hearing between the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) leaders' selection team and the House's Commission III overseeing legal affairs on Monday, and said he had to attend a Cabinet meeting at the State Palace.
Meanwhile, State-Owned Enterprises Minister Rini M.Soemarno sent a letter to the House on Nov. 20, urging that as a temporary measure, it not invite the ministry's officials to attend any session. (ask/ebf)(++++)
