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.

Jakarta Post

New House shows little sign of improvement, analysts say

Formappi noticed that elections had yet to show any sign of reward or punishment for lawmakers. Researcher Lucius Karus pointed out that the House’s poor performance in the previous term did not deter voters from reelecting the same politicians in this year’s election.

Kharishar Kahfi (The Jakarta Post)
Premium
Jakarta
Tue, October 8, 2019

Share This Article

Change Size

New House shows little sign of improvement, analysts say House of Representatives Speaker Puan Maharani (center) holds the gavel accompanied by her deputy speakers Azis Syamsuddin, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, Rachmat Gobel and Muhaimin Iskandar after they were inaugurated as House speaker and deputy speakers on Oct. 1. (JP/Seto Wardhana)

D

espite an end to the intense protests against the House of Representatives spearheaded by university students over the past week, there does not appear to be much public enthusiasm for the newly elected lawmakers or a great deal of faith in their ability to represent the national interest for the next five years.

The 575 lawmakers were inaugurated amid high tensions outside the House’ compound in Senayan, Central Jakarta, last Wednesday as students and members of various organizations took to the streets in protest at contentious bills and the controversial passing of a revised Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Law.

The lawmakers from nine political parties secured their seats after passing the legislative threshold during the 2019 legislative elections held concurrently for the first time with the presidential election in April.

According to data from the General Elections Commission (KPU), 321 of the 575 lawmakers -- 56 percent of the total number -- are incumbent lawmakers who served during the 2014-2019 period.

Indonesian Parliament Watch (Formappi) found that the high number of incumbents was a result of their success in wooing voters in their respective electoral districts through their political work.

However, Formappi also noticed that elections had yet to show any sign of reward or punishment for lawmakers. Researcher Lucius Karus pointed out that the House’s poor performance in the previous term did not deter voters from reelecting the same politicians in this year’s election.

During the previous term, the House only passed 91 bills into law -- less than half the target of 189 bills set in the 2014-2019 National Legislation Program (Prolegnas).

to Read Full Story

  • Unlimited access to our web and app content
  • e-Post daily digital newspaper
  • No advertisements, no interruptions
  • Privileged access to our events and programs
  • Subscription to our newsletters
or

Purchase access to this article for

We accept

TJP - Visa
TJP - Mastercard
TJP - GoPay

Redirecting you to payment page

Pay per article

New House shows little sign of improvement, analysts say

Rp 29,000 / article

1
Create your free account
By proceeding, you consent to the revised Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.
Already have an account?

2
  • Palmerat Barat No. 142-143
  • Central Jakarta
  • DKI Jakarta
  • Indonesia
  • 10270
  • +6283816779933
2
Total Rp 29,000
{

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.