The ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has called for the reinstatement of the State Finance Accountability Agency (BAKN), a House’s audit body that the PDI-P said had gained international respect.

PDI-P lawmaker Hendrawan Supratikno said Tuesday his party would endorse the reinstatement of the BAKN through a comprehensive amendment of the 2014 Legislative Institution Law, also known as the MD3 Law.

“The BAKN was a body responsible for examining the state’s finance accountability. It provided comprehensive reports on state spending,” he said. “Eliminating an important body like the BAKN was a horrible decision,” he said.

BAKN, the only department within the House that had received international recognition for its accountability and integrity, was eliminated in 2014 when the House approved the MD3 Law.

The law was deliberated and endorsed after the 2014 elections, which led to the creation of two major political coalitions – the pro-government Great Indonesia Coalition (KIH) and the opposition camp, the Red-and-White Coalition.

The House is expected to deliberate the amendment of the MD3 Law in two stages. The first stage is aimed at revising the chairmanship composition both at the House and the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR), which will include PDI-P’s representatives in the leadership. The agreement on leadership changes was achieved in exchange for PDI-P’s support for the return of Golkar chairman Setya Novanto as House speaker.

In the second step, major changes are expected in the MD3 Law, through which lawmakers believe the legislative institution can have strengthened authority in carrying out its tasks in composing budgets, formulating legislation and monitoring the government. (ebf)