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House standoff back to square one
The truce between the Red-and-White Coalition and Great Indonesia Coalition at the House of Representatives came to nought on Wednesday as the legislative body put the brakes on amending the Legislative Institutions (MD3) Law, a condition that was required for the resolution of the lengthy dispute between the two sides
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he truce between the Red-and-White Coalition and Great Indonesia Coalition at the House of Representatives came to nought on Wednesday as the legislative body put the brakes on amending the Legislative Institutions (MD3) Law, a condition that was required for the resolution of the lengthy dispute between the two sides.
After weeks of discussion at the House's Legislation Body (Baleg), which was tasked with deliberating the amendment, a plenary meeting on Wednesday failed to approve the draft revision of the MD3 Law as lawmakers bickered over technicalities, despite an earlier agreement reached by all political factions through their representatives at Baleg to go ahead with the deliberation process.
Several lawmakers insisted the amendment should first be formally included in the National Legislation Program (Prolegnas) list, which the House had yet to formulate. Such a proposal, if met, could extend the time needed to complete the amendment beyond the Dec. 5 deadline already approved by both factions.
'This is to ensure that the process complies with the legal procedure. Thus, it's better to first complete the Prolegnas so that we can include the amendment in the list,' Democratic Party lawmaker Benny Kabur Harman told the plenary session.
Several other lawmakers, particularly from the opposition Red-and-White Coalition, supported the argument, saying the inclusion of the amendment in the Prolegnas would provide legal grounds for the amendment.
Other lawmakers opposing the deliberation of the MD3 Law said the House should first settle a disagreement with sister-institution the Regional Representatives Council (DPD), which had been demanding a role in the amendment process.
The setback has caused more bad blood between lawmakers from the two coalitions, who are not yet over their bitter month-long battle for control of the House, which is now controlled by the Red-and-White Coalition, the political grouping that nominated Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto in the July 9 presidential election.
- House declines to proceed with MD3 Law amendment
- Govt says it will normalize ties with House if MD3 change is completed
'They [lawmakers in the Red-and-White Coalition] are not to be trusted. They refused to approve [the amendment] as soon as all of us [the Great Indonesia Coalition's factions] submitted our lineups for all House internal bodies. They are not committed [to meeting their obligations],' said Johnny G. Plate, deputy chairman of the NasDem Party faction.
Many speculated that the renewed standoff resulted from what the Red-and-White Coalition deemed a political intervention by President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo in the internal affairs of the Golkar Party, which is a member of that coalition.
Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno, a NasDem politician, said on Tuesday that the National Police should not issue a permit for Golkar's planned national congress in Bali, following a violent clash between supporters of dueling factions within the party.
Golkar politician Azis Syamsuddin, who chairs House Commission III overseeing law and human rights, lambasted Tedjo's statement.
'The government must not interfere with political parties. This is the second time the government has made a questionable move after Cabinet Secretary [Andi Widjajanto's] circular prohibiting ministers from attending meetings with us. He [Andi] must be fired soon,' he added.
Separately, Andi said the government would restore ties with the House only after lawmakers reached an agreement on the amendment of the MD3 Law.
