New House Speaker to Revoke Bans on Overseas Working Visits
1 December 2016 20:38 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - House of Representatives Speaker Setya Novanto said that he would revoke bans on overseas working visits for lawmakers.
“There will be no more restrictions,” Setya said at the Senayan Parliamentary Complex in Jakarta on Thursday, December 1, 2016.
According to Setya, conducting overseas working visits is a part of lawmakers’ job so that they can improve or evaluate laws.
Bans on overseas working visits were imposed by former House speaker Ade Komaruddin. Ade claimed that the move had resulted in a budget efficiency of Rp 131 billion (US$10 million).
In addition, Ade issued a policy to reduce the duration of the House recess between sitting sessions from one month to two weeks. In relation to the policy, Setya said that he would discuss it with other House leaders and factions.
“We will evaluate them together to determine which ones are the best for the people,” he said.
Setya was reappointed as the House Speaker after resigning in December 2015 due to the Freeport shares scandal. Ade was then appointed to replace Setya. However, the Functional Group (Golkar) Central Executive Board decided to reappoint Setya and remove Ade.
AHMAD FAIZ