Page 173 - BUKU A CENTURY OF PARLIAMENTARY LIFE IN INDONESIA

A CENTURY OF PARLIAMENTARY LIFE
IN INDONESIA

Speaker of the DPR in the period after the Presi-
dential Decree of 5 July 1959 basically was not
If deemed necessary, the much different, even though the democratic sys-
tem implemented was no longer parliamentary.
speaker could negotiate The differences that existed only lie in the details

with the questioner about of the election method when there were two can-
the form and content of the didates.

question. If this question The main duties of the commission were basically
was then answered by the the same as the duties of the sections and depart-

President in writing, no ments in the two DPR Rules of Procedure. Re-
garding the rights or efforts of the DPR, the DPR
verbal discussion would Rules of Procedure after the Presidential Decree
be held regarding the of 5 July 1959 were stated in Chapter VI concern-

matter. ing the “Efforts of the House of Representatives
to Carry out its Duties”, while in the DPR Rules of
Procedure for the period of Parliamentary Demo-
cracy, it was regulated in Chapter VII concerning
the “Rights of the House of Representatives” .

The efforts of the DPR to be able to carry out its duties and facilitate coop-
eration with the Government as referred to in the DPR Rules of Procedure
after the Presidential Decree of 5 July 1959 include: (1) asking questions;
(2) requesting information; (3) conducting an investigation; (4) submitting
amendments; and (5) submitting opinions or other suggestions.

Asking questions to the President could be done by each member of the
DPR. Questions must be brief, clear, and submitted in writing through the
Speaker of the DPR, who would forward them to the President. If deemed
necessary, the speaker could negotiate with the questioner about the
form and content of the question. If this question was then answered by
the President in writing, no verbal discussion would be held regarding
the matter. However, the questioner might request that the question be
answered verbally. If the President fulfilled the request, the questioner
at the appointed meeting could briefly explain the question so that the
President could explain more broadly on the matter in question. The
other members were not given a chance to speak.

Requesting information from the President could be submitted by a
minimum of 10 members. The proposal must be short and clear, and
submitted in writing through the Speaker of the DPR. The speaker then
notified the DPR about the existence of the proposal. The secretariat

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