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House to resume working visits overseas
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Golkar Party chairman Setya Novanto (second right) shakes hands with then House of Representatives speaker Ade Komarudin during a party event on July 27. Setya was inaugurated as House speaker on Wednesday, replacing Ade. (Antara Photo/M Agung Rajasa)
T
he House of Representatives will resume overseas working visits for all lawmakers under the leadership of newly installed speaker, Setya Novanto.
Setya made the announcement on Thursday, arguing that to go overseas on working visits was the right of all members of the House, thus he would reinstate such a policy.
“Working visits abroad are needed because they are part of the job description for all lawmakers,” Setya told the press. “They are needed to help [lawmakers] learn from abroad and to study improvements as well as evaluations to make their work better”.
The chairman of the Golkar Party referred to the decision as one of the changes he would implement as new House speaker after officially taking over control from fellow party member Ade Komarudin on Wednesday.
As then House speaker, Ade decided to limit working visits abroad for lawmakers amid public criticism.
The House had faced widespread criticism of the policy allowing lawmakers go abroad for working visits in the past due to a lack of accountability. Lawmakers also failed to impress the public with their performances despite the number working visits overseas that were paid using taxpayers’ money. Surveys have often placed the legislature as among the least trusted or respected public institution among Indonesians. (dmr)
