Page 40 - BUKU A CENTURY OF PARLIAMENTARY LIFE IN INDONESIA

FROM VOLKSRAAD TO THE CENTRAL INDONESIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE
(1917–1949)

1927–1931:

FROM VOLKSRAAD TO THE CENTRAL

INDONESIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE

(1917–1949), A CO-LEGISLATIVE

INSTITUTION WITH LIMITED AUTHORITY

If the Volksraad was nothing more than an advisory body in the previous period,

in 1927, the Volksraad became a co-legislative body to the Governor-General.
However, the Volksraad’s authority was limited as the Governor-General had

veto power.

OF the total 60 members, 30 were Dutch, composing of 15 elected and
15 appointed members; 25 were bumiputra, comprising 19 elected and 4
appointed members; and 5 were Chinese, composing of 3 elected and 2
appointed members. Volksraad membership was determined through an
indirect election.

One of the bumiputra figures in the Volksraad was Yahya Gelar Datuk
Kayo from Minangkabau. He was elected a member of the Volksraad in
1927. The first Volksraad session that he attended was held in June 1927.
When he was elected a member of the Volksraad, he was still the De-
mang of Padang Panjang, a position then transferred to Air Bangis (De-
cember 1928–May 1929).

Yahya was one of 25 bumiputra representatives out of a total of 55 Volk-
sraad members. He represented Minangkabau for the 1927–1931 period,
succeeding Tuan Lutan Datuk Rangkayo Maharajo. Yahya Datuk Kayo

(Source: Volksalmanak Melajoe Serie
In his first speech on June 16, 1927, Yahya seemed to want to change No. 77, 1928)
the Volksraad, something which Agus Salim criticized as a farce. Yahya
wanted to say that, before there was a Volksraad, the government only
listened to the government; it did not get enough information from its
citizens. However, after the Volksraad, situations changed.

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