“DPR Plans to Summon Constitutional Court Over KPK Leadership Term Extension Decision”

CNN Indonesia

Thursday, May 25 2023 17:46 WIB

Jakarta, CNNIndonesia —

Deputy Chairman of Commission III of the DPR from the NasDem faction, Ahmad Sahroni, strongly criticized this Constitutional Court (MK) after the decision to extend the term of office of the leadership KPK from four to five years.

Sahroni said that his party would coordinate with other leaders in the DPR’s Commission III to schedule the summons of the Constitutional Court. His party will question the authority of the Constitutional Court in the decision.

“I will ask other leaders to summon the Constitutional Court. Because if we summon Commission III partners, we must be a collegial collective,” said Sahroni when contacted, Thursday (25/5).

The NasDem Party politician admits that he is still confused by the Constitutional Court’s decision which granted the lawsuit of one of the KPK commissioners, Nurul Ghufron by extending the tenure of the leadership of the Anti-Corruption Institution.

According to him, the decision has overstepped the authority of the DPR as the legislator.

“It’s the DPR that makes the law. Why is it the MK that decides on the extension of an institutional position. Me really confused,” he said.

Meanwhile, member of Commission III of the House of Representatives from the Democratic Party faction, Benny Kabur Harman, cast strong criticism of the decision. He questioned the MK’s legal reason for extending the term of office of the KPK leadership.

In fact, according to Benny, the regulation on this matter absolutely falls under the authority of the DPR as the legislator.

“Where did the Constitutional Court’s authority come from to change the term of office of the KPK leadership? That is the absolute authority to form laws. The constitutional order has been damaged because the Constitutional Court has played politics. This country is destroyed!” said Benny.

The Constitutional Court granted the request for a judicial review of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Law submitted by KPK Deputy Chairman Nurul Ghufron regarding the term of office of the KPK leadership.

With this decision, the tenure of the KPK leadership was changed from four to five years.

The Constitutional Court judges in their considerations stated that setting the tenure of the KPK leadership which is different from the term of office of the leadership or members of other independent institutions has violated the principles of justice, rationality and discrimination. The judge considered that this was contrary to the provisions of Article 28D paragraph 1 of the 1945 Constitution.

“Granted the request in its entirety,” said constitutional judge Anwar Usman in an open trial broadcast online, Thursday (25/5).

(thr/isn)