TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - House of Representatives speaker Ade Komaruddin said that the government should propose to revise the law on citizenship in order to expedite the deliberation.
"We will include it in the National Legislation Program [Prolegnas] and evaluate which bills to be prioritized," Ade said at the Senayan Parliamentary Complex in Jakarta on Friday, August 19, 2016.
Asrul Sani, member of House of Representatives' Commission III overseeing legal affairs, human rights and security, added that the law on citizenship must be revised. However, Asrul said that the revision was not as urgent as that of the counterterrorism law.
"It's hard to measure whether it is urgent or not," Asrul said.
According to Asrul, a thorough deliberation is necessary if the revision is aimed at facilitating dual citizenships. Asrul revealed that many countries tend to restrict dual citizenships through their laws.
Asrul explained that dual citizenship could be beneficial, since it would attract diaspora to return to Indonesia.
"Maybe we can facilitate dual citizenships only for diaspora," Asrul added.
The issues with dual citizenship surfaced after it was revealed that former Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Arcandra Tahar is a US citizen. After serving for 20 days, Arcandra was removed from the ministerial post on Monday, August 15, 2016.
Vice President Jusuf Kalla said that Arcandra Tahar had declared his willingness to be an Indonesian citizen. Therefore, Kalla revealed that the government would soon process the request.
"We will expedite the process related to the citizenship. [Arcandra] wants to serve in Indonesia. The government needs his expertise," Kalla said on Friday, August 19, 2016.
AHMAD FAIZ