DPR Not Ready For The Omnibus Law Mechanism

DPR / MPR Building (Irvan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - Researcher for the Community Concerned Parliamentary Forum (Formappi) Lucius Karus said that it is difficult to determine the ideal time to finalize the draft law (RUU) on the Omibus Law. This is because this is a new practice in the formation of legislation in Indonesia.

"Moreover, the DPR also seems not very ready with this omnibus law mechanism. Because it should have started with some kind of study on what laws need to be combined into one umbrella," he told VOI, in Jakarta, Tuesday, December 17.

According to Lucius, the speed or length of the deliberation process depends on the extent or narrowness of the field to be regulated in the Omnibus Law Bill. Also, what is the readiness of the DPR and the Government regarding academic papers and drafts.

"If these two things are just starting to be prepared, I think it will take about half a year to prepare the academic paper and the draft bill. After that, the discussion process will start. If it is serious, then one bill can be completed in a year," he explained.

Lucius said that the government and the DPR must have the same view so that this bill can be completed quickly according to Jokowi's request. Because of that, he suggested, that there should be a study of what laws can be combined into one.

"Yes. The concept must be clearly formulated through an academic paper. So that the discussion process is based on the same concept. Do not get into arguments about the substance that should have been completed in the preparation of an academic paper," he said.

"This combines many laws into one umbrella, meaning that there must be some kind of review of any laws that need to be combined. Do not let it be discussed that you realize there are other laws that regulate the same thing so that they overlap," he said.

Law and statute illustration (Pixabay)

DPR does not guarantee that the Omnibus Law will be completed in the near future

Chairman of the DPR, Puan Maharani, admitted that he could not confirm that the Draft Law (RUU) on the Omnibus Law, which was the government's proposal, could be completed within three months. As directed by President Joko Widodo.

Moreover, said Puan, the DPR has not received a Presidential Letter (Surpres) to do this. This is because it becomes the basis for the DPR to initiate deliberation on the Bill.

"Yes, we can't confirm it, because I haven't even received the Presidential Decree yet," said Puan at the MPR / DPR Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Monday, December 16.

Puan asked the government to send a Presidential Decree regarding the Omnibus Law Bill first to the DPR. In fact, he predicts that the government will send Surpres in January 2020 to the DPR.

The PDIP politician said that his party could not predict when the bill would be completed. This is because the Surpres has not yet been received by the DPR.

"This means that if we DPR do not know the details before the Presidential Surpres comes. Of course we cannot predict whether this is a month, two months, three months etc. Because amending the Law, even though the article is only a little, it certainly requires work. and the mechanism we have to do, "he explained.

Previously, President Jokowi admitted that he had directly conveyed to the Chairman of the DPR, Puan Maharani, that the revision process of about 82 laws included in the omnibus law would be completed within three months.

"So that we submit it directly to the DPR, Mrs. Puan, this is already 82 laws, please complete it immediately. I whisper if possible Ma'am, don't let it take more than three months," said Jokowi, as quoted by CNNIndonesia.