JOKOWI FINALLY ALLOWS MINISTERS TO ATTEND MEETINGS WITH PARLIAMENT by Fardah

      Jakarta, Nov 26,2014 (Antara) - The House of Representatives (DPR) was recently "shocked" by Cabinet Secretary Andi Widjajanto's letter containing President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's instruction to ministers and other high ranking officials to skip all meetings with lawmakers before the Parliament resolves its internal problems.

         In the letter No.SE-12/Seskab/XII/2014 and dated Nov. 4, 2014,  all ministers,  the Indonesian Military (TNI) commander, the head of the National Police, the TNI chiefs of staff, the head of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) and the attorney general, were asked to abstain from responding to any invitation by the DPR to have a hearing or working meeting with them.

         "Of course it's true. If we [the government] go to one House meeting, it will be deemed wrong. If we go to another House meeting, it will also be deemed wrong. Then what?" Jokowi told the press in Bogor, West Java, on Nov. 24, 2014, confirming his order in the cabinet secretary's letter.          
    The policy is intended to provide an opportunity to the DPR
to deal with its internal problems first, according to the letter.

        "If the House has settled the matter, then they can contact [the government to attend House meetings]. Why should they summon [the ministers now]? What for?" Jokowi said earlier.

         The letter referred to a rivalry between two political parties' coalitions respectively the opposition Red-White Coalition (KMP) and the Great Indonesia Coalition (KIH) that has been supporting the Jokowi administration, in the Parliament (DPR).

         The KMP comprising the Golkar Party, The Great Indonesian Movement (Gerindra) Party, the National Mandate Party (PAN), and the Justice Prosperous Party (PKS).

         The Democratic Party (PD) founded by the former president of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, frequently shared similar views with the KMP on many occasions, even though the party has stated that it has decided to take a neutral stance.  The KMP and PD have dominated the leadership in the Parliament.

         The KIH, which dominates the executive power, comprises the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), the National Democrat Party (Nasdem), the Nation Awakening Party (PKB) and the People's Conscience Party (Hanura).

         The KIH had earlier formed a rival DPR leadership because they were disappointed with the KMP's domination in the DPR's leadership.

         The two rival coalitions, however, agreed to resolve their differences after inking a reconciliation agreement at the parliament building on Nov. 17, 2014.

         A political observer has worried that the cabinet secretary's letter would in fact hinder the ongoing reconciliation between DPR's rival coalitions.

         "Such a policy could ruin a reconciliation attempt between the Red-White Coalition (KMP) and the Great Indonesian Coalition (KIH), which have almost reached a deal," Karyono Wibowo, a researcher in the Indonesian Public Institute, stated in Jakarta, on Nov. 26, 2014.

         Wibowo gave a thumbs-up to the legislators from the KMP and KIH who had arrived at a consensus regarding several matters including revisions of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), DPR, the Regional Representative Council (DPD), and the Regional Legislative Council (DPRD) law, popularly known as the MD3 Law.

         Therefore, the president's instruction to prevent ministers from attending any hearing or working meeting with the DPR was not a tactical maneuver.

         "In fact, it triggers a question, what is the motive behind the issuance of the letter? Is there a party pushing the president to make such a decision or is it purely from the president? What political power and legal basis that can be used to support the government's policies without the Parliament?" he questioned.

         He hinted that controversial decisions made by the government could land President Jokowi in trouble as the political reality indicates that he lacks strong support in the Parliament.

         There are even disagreements among legislators from the KIH concerning the government's policy to raise the fuel prices and the appointment of the new attorney general, according to him.

         If the government failed to control inflation due to the fuel price hike, the public's disappointment could be used by rival politicians to attack the government, he pointed out.

         "Therefore, I hope that in the Jokowi administration, there is no one playing the role of Sengkuni who has a hidden political agenda that could endanger the Jokowi administration," he added.

         The cabinet secretary's letter was also criticized by Deputy Chairman of the Democratic Party's Faction in Parliament Herman Khaeron who said that the DPR has been established institutionally, so the government must abide by the Constitution, he emphasized.

         "The DPR has legitimized the Joko Widodo-Jusuf Kalla government, as none of the factions' representatives walked out during the inauguration of the president. It is our consequence as a decision maker in line with the laws," he noted.

         The government could not say that the DPR was not solid, and therefore, it has issued the letter, he noted, adding that the government has no right to intervene in the parliament.

         "We could understand if they used a problem concerning internal coordination among the ministers as an excuse. But, if their excuse is that the DPR is not solid, then it is not correct," he pointed out.

         The sooner the government and the parliament communicate, the better, he stated.

         He reiterated that the DPR will always support Jokowi's
pro-people programs.  "Too many suspicions have been raised against the DPR,despite the fact that we have no such intention," he remarked.

         The problem triggered by the cabinet secretary's letter has prompted Speaker of the Parliament to call on the head of state to help improve executive-legislative relations.

         "Last night I communicated with President Jokowi. I asked him to develop a better partnership  with the parliament (DPR)," said DPR speaker Setya Novanto on Nov. 26, 2014. 
    The Golkar party politician said disharmony in the relations between DPR  and the executive body would hurt the people.

         "Whereas the government has the mandate to carry out development by the people  and the DPR  is to watch the implementation of  development," Setya said.

         Development  would run smoothly if the two bodies carry out their respective duties as they should, he said, adding, if the government is strong, development would run well.

         He said President Jokowi welcomed his call for improving relations between the government and DPR.

         In Bengkulu on the same day (Nov. 26), Jokowi told the press that he did not ask the cabinet ministers not to meet with DPR. But, he asked the ministers not meeting with the DPR until the legislative body settled its internal dispute, he added.

         In addition, the government has just started work for a month, so he considered that it is too early to have meetings with lawmakers.

         Besides, he excused that the letter telling the cabinet ministers not to meet DPR was issued on Nov 4 when the DPR was split into two rival blocks.

         "It would be wrong if we come to the DPR  and hold a meeting with one of the conflicting blocks. Today, I believe the conflict has been over. If they (ministers) are asked for a meeting (with the Parliament), they can go," Jokowi said.  ***1***
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