Jakarta. The House of Representatives on Monday celebrated its 65th anniversary with a muted response to mounting public criticisms of its recent performance. House Speaker Marzuki Alie, addressing a plenary session called to mark the occasion, only touched on the issues affecting the legislature during his speech.

“The House completely understands the people’s criticisms of its legislative functions, seeing the small numbers of bills we have deliberated,” he told a nearly half-empty chamber. “Therefore, various efforts have been undertaken to confront this challenge and look for breakthroughs.”
Since starting its tenure in October, the House has only managed to pass seven bills, already forcing it to halve its initial target of completing 70 bills this year. Marzuki, who is from the ruling Democratic Party, asked the public to understand that the House also had to deliberate with the government over bills, and the process was invariably a long one.

“The people need to be informed of this so there will be no more talk about the legislature not being serious enough when deliberating bills,” he said. House Deputy Speaker Pramono Anung, from the opposition Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), conceded the work of the current legislature left much to be desired. Read more