REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The government should lower the prices of subsidized fuels as the public has rejected its recent decision to raise it, Suir Syam, a legislator of the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), said.
"The problem is not with the hike itself but with its impacts. It has led to an increase in the prices of basics necessities as well," Syam, who represents constituencies from West Sumatra, stated.
Syam is among the lawmakers who rejected the subsidized fuel price hikes as President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo implemented the policy without seeking approval from the House of Representatives (DPR).
On November 17, Jokowi announced the increase in the price of premium gasoline to Rp8.5 thousand from Rp6.5 thousand per liter and that of automotive diesel oil to Rp7.5 thousand from Rp5.5 thousand per liter.
"The president raised the fuel oil prices even though our constituencies rejected it. We have to give them an explanation, but we ourselves do not know the reasons why the president raised the prices," he remarked.
With regard to the constituencies' questions, he noted that it would be reasonable if some members of the Red-White Coalition of the DPR submit a proposal to enforce the parliamentary interpellation right to seek explanations from the president.
The interpellation right would be used to 'force' the president to answer the people's questions. "It is a means for the DPR to ask the government to explain it. If the president's answers are logical and reasonable, then the DPR will inform the public about it," Syam affirmed.
He added that if the president's explanations were not acceptable, the government should lower the prices subsidized fuels.
The interpellation right will also be used to find out how the funds that will be available from the subsidy cuts of the fuel oil price hikes will be used.
Until Tuesday (November 25), as many as 50 lawmakers from the Golkar Party faction signed an interpellation proposal seeking the government's explanation over its subsidized fuel price hike policy.
"Till today afternoon, 50 lawmakers have agreed to exercise their interpellation right. The number is likely to increase to 87 from the Golkar Party alone," spokesman of the Golkar Party faction, Misbakhun, noted last Tuesday.
All lawmakers of the Red- White Coalition who want to use their interpellation right are set to gather this evening, he had revealed, adding that this number could reach 200.
"Lawmakers from the Prosperous Justice Party, the National Mandate Party, and Gerindra will also sign it. I think the number will be significant enough to meet the requirements to bring the issue to a plenary meeting," he stated.
Interpellation right is inherent to each member of the DPR, he remarked, adding that the political stand should not necessarily be interpreted negatively.
President Joko Widodo has merely been requested to reply to the DPR's question regarding his decision to slash fuel subsidy, he noted.
"The matter is stipulated in the Legislative Institutions (MD3) Law, so there is nothing to worry about," he assured.
Furthermore, Deputy Chairman of the National Democratic (Nasdem) Party Johnny G. Plate earlier said that the use of the interpellation right to seek the government's explanation over the subsidized fuel price hike policy was premature on the grounds that the government was not given an opportunity to explain itself.
"There are phases that must be passed, so they cannot directly subject President Joko Widodo to the interpellation right. Let us first give the government an opportunity to explain it," he added.
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