Page 85 - BUKU A CENTURY OF PARLIAMENTARY LIFE IN INDONESIA

A CENTURY OF PARLIAMENTARY LIFE
IN INDONESIA

On February 14, 1948, PM Hatta informed the BP KNIP of his cabinet’s
programs. Some of the things mentioned in the statement, among oth-
ers, were that the presidential cabinet system that he ran was only tem-
porary and served only to defuse conflicts between parties. Furthermore,
Hatta hoped to return to the parliamentary system soon.

Hatta explained how the government’s fighting strategy had changed
from defending the Republic of Indonesia to the formation of the RIS.
Many rights and powers would indeed be sacrificed should RI operate
under RIS but this was the only way for all of Indonesia to achieve inde-
pendence and sovereignty. PM Hatta told BP KNIP that his next battle
would be to be active in RIS, where RI would play its own role.

The government’s performance in the regions had become a concern to
the BP KNIP members since several years ago. However, the discussion
could only be carried out in 1948, since May 15, 1948. BP KNIP finally
agreed on the proposal of the Bill on Principal Governance in the Regions
as proposed by the government with amendments. The main points of
this draft, after BP KNIP’s revisions, were as follows:

The regions of the Republic of Indonesia were to be divided into three
autonomous regions that would have their own government, namely
provinces, regencies or big cities, and village areas. Each region would
have a Regional People’s Representative Council (DPRD), whose mem-
bers would be directly elected by the respective residents. The executive
committee sessions would be held by the chairman who would also be
the regional head.

The appointment of governors would be carried out by the president,
regents by the Home Affairs Minister, and village chiefs or district heads
by recommendations from each respective DPRD. Regional heads
would hold an indefinite term of office, but the DPRD could propose
for the dismissal of the regional head to the institution that appointed
them.

Members of the Regional Representative Council (DPD) were elected by
and from members of the DPRD. The chairman and deputy chairman of
the DPRD could not sit on the DPD since it is responsible to the DPRD as
collegiaan bestuur (co-government).

Special Regions (DI) had the same structure and level as other regions.
DI’s speciality lay in the appointment of its regional head by the presi-

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