It was during the New Order era that the House of Representatives (DPR) was no more than an ornament, a much-touted "rubber stamp" for the Suharto regime. "They only knew how to sing the song of agreement," is how singer Iwan Fals mentions the representatives in one of his songs. The House in this reform era, though, is much more empowered. In the Wahid era, the DPR has become a sparring-partner, and could be said to be a match for the president.