GOVT SEES NO URGENCY TO SET UP SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON HAZE

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 28 (Antara) - Though it will not interfere in the House's affairs, the government thinks that there is no need for the lawmakers to establish a special committee to investigate the haze problem being faced by the country.          "There is no need to indulge in polemics about the establishment of a special committee on haze," Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said in Jakarta on Wednesday.         Until Tuesday, October 27, eight of the 10 factions in the House of Representatives (DPR) had agreed to a proposal to set up a special committee to investigate the handling of forest and land fire-triggered haze which has, of late, shrouded three quarters of the country as well as neighboring nations such as Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines.         The eight factions are the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra), the National Mandate Party (PAN), the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the Democratic Party (PD), the United Development Party (PPP), the Golkar Party and the National Awakening Party (PKB).          Two other factions, the National Democratic Party (NasDem) and the People's Conscience Party (Hanura), have yet to take a stance on the debate to establish a special committee on haze.          Chairman of the House Commission IV on forestry and plantation affairs of DPR Edhy Prabowo said the objective of the special committee is to encourage the government to overcome the haze problem.      Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, who is in charge as the coordinator of the country's handling of forest and land fires, said the rhetoric about the DPR's plan to form a special committee on haze should not be raised in a hurry.         "Let's stop the polemics for the time being while we are making our efforts. We can overcome it, and it is a matter of humanity. We can take along our politician colleagues to see the conditions in the field," Luhut said in Jakarta on Wednesday.