Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives Dr. (H.C.) Puan Maharani delivers a speech in a Plenary Session on Tuesday. Photo: Eno/Man

Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives Dr. (H.C.) Puan Maharani ensured that the Members of the House maintained productivity to discharge their parliamentary obligation amid the COVID-19 Pandemic. However, the working arrangement in the parliament amid the pandemic was adjusted in adherence to health protocols to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 as was applied in the House Plenary Session held on Tuesday.

“We, at the House of Representatives, continue to function and serve. Adjustment to health protocols will not reduce the effectiveness of the legislators’ performance,” stated Maharani after attending a Plenary Session with the agenda of decision making on the 2019 State Budget Accountability Implementation Bill, Tuesday (15/9/2020).

The Speaker and Vice Speaker of the House for People’s Welfare Muhaimin Iskandar attended the Plenary Session virtually to comply with health protocols and share tasks among Leaders of the House based on their main duties and functions. The House Leaders physically attending the Plenary Session were Sufmi Dasco Ahmad (Vice Speaker for Economy and Finance), Rachmat Gobel (Vice Speaker for Industry and Development), and M Aziz Syamsuddin (Vice Speaker for Politics and Security).

In complying with the Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) regulation, each faction in the Indonesian House only sent one representative (chairperson or member of faction) assigned to attend in person to the Plenary Session. Other Members of the House join the meeting virtually. “We remain productive while also maintaining the health protocol at the same time,” Maharani said.

Decision making on the Bill on State Budget Accountability for 2019 Fiscal Year was the agenda in the Plenary Session. All factions in the House agreed to pass the bill into law without notes, while Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) made minor note.

Maharani hoped that the State Budget management in the following years will have a more effective internal control system and always comply with the prevailing laws and regulations. She called on the government to also follow up on findings in financial reports and ensure its settlement to prevent it from occurring in the next year’s State Budget. “The government must also enhance effectiveness on the State Budget management to improve the people’s welfare”. Maharani concluded.