Jakarta (ANTARA News) - House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Marzuki Alie contended that a new DPR building was necessary to accomodate members` expert staff.

He said after exchanging Idul Fitri greetings with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono here on Friday that in principle a new building was needed to accomodate expert staff to improve DPR members` performance.

Many quarters have so far been criticizing the project as being extravagant.

Marzuki said "now the need for increasing the number of expert staff is very urgent."
He said "we are still thinking. If there is indeed a place to accomodate the expert staff I think the idea to cancel the project is good."

He said a DPR member now needs at least five expert staff to increase his/her performance in line with an increasing task of the parliament following reform.

He referred to US members of parliament as an example that each have from 15 to 20 expert staff and the Phillipine members of parliament that have five to seven expert staff each.

"Indonesian members of parliament now only have one each. They have meanwhile to compete with the government with regard to for example legislation which has now been in the hands of the members. They meanwhile do not have apparatus to write the legislation. There must be personnel that have to prepare and discuss the materials. In addition to it the national has now also reached Rp1,200 trillion," he said.

Marzuki said he feared unless members are given assistants discussions on legislation would not reach the substance and as a result "effectiveness of budget control or checks will not be optimal."

He said the project was now indeed being reviewed with regard to its cost.

He said the budget for it which is more than Rp1 trillion and to be disbursed in three fiscal years is actually not too much as it is for building a symbol of democracy.

Marzuki said with regard to the project President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as the chief patron of the ruling Democrat Party has never given any directives to the party`s faction in the DPR.

He said he referred the decision for it fully to the DPR.
(T.D013/H-YH/HAJM/P003)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
COPYRIGHT © 2012

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