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Arrest won't stop DPD plan to expand powers: DPD member
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President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo delivers a speech before members of the House of Representatives and Regional Representatives Council (DPD) on Aug. 16. (Antara Photo/Akbar Nugroho Gumay)
T
he arrest of Regional Representatives Council (DPD) speaker Irman Gusman, who stands accused of accepting a bribe, will not derail the council's efforts to campaign for an amendment to the Constitution to expand its legislative powers, a DPD member insists.
Fahira Idris, the DPD member representing Jakarta, asserted that the council did not regard the bribery case an obstacle, since Irman's case was a personal matter with no connection to the council as an institution.
She stressed that the DPD had no authority over the state budget or import quotas.
"The efforts to strengthen [DPD] powers will never cease. There will never be a strong presidential system as long as the bicameral system in the legislature, which should uphold checks and balances between the House of Representatives and the DPD, is not effective, since the DPD is too weak," Fahira said on Monday.
Strengthening the DPD was a mandate of the Reform era and strongly in line with the People’s Consultative Assembly's (MPR) plan to reinstate the state policy guidelines (GBHN), the guidance for long-term development planning that the president must implement, Fahira said.
She acknowledged that the bribery case might affect public trust in the DPD; however, she expressed optimism that the public would understand that Irman's case was not related to the institution. (bbn)
