The Chairperson of the Constitutional Court, Jimly Asshidique, paid a media visit to the National Journal Daily. During the visit on Monday (26/2), the Chairperson was accompanied by the Secretary General of the Constitutional Court MK Janedjri M. Gaffar.

The Chairperson of the Constitutional Court was welcomed by the Chief Director of the National Journal, N. Syamsuddin Ch. Haesy, Chief Editor Ramadhan Pohan and the Company Director Ananta Setiawan and members of the Editorial Board of the National Journal. In his welcoming remarks, Syamsuddin thanked the Chairperson of the Constitutional Court for his visit at the National Journal office. Syamsuddin also said to the Chairperson of the Constitutional Court that the National Journal is committed to uphold “enlightenment journalism” whereby the National Journal exist to bring enlightenment and new colour in the Indonesian journalistic field. Aside from that, Syamsuddin also asked the Constitutional Court to disseminate through the National Journal, in terms of the dissemination of the Constitutional Court as a newly established institution and dissemination of constitution which is also “new”. “The National Journal is the only newspaper that is most appropriate for the dissemination of the Constitutional Court,” he said, half joking.

In his responding remarks, Jimly expressed his appreciation on the vision of the National Journal to be the media that upholds “enlightenment”. That will give the National Journal a special characteristic which will add value to the newspaper amidst the increasingly competitive press industry. On that occasion, Jimly also explained several matters related to the position of the Constitutional Court in the composition of the Indonesian state administration, whereby the Court attempts to balance relations among state institutions. The Court is in the middle of the mechanism of relationship between state institutions. The position is related to the increase in new post reform institutions and also the role of the Court as the holder of authority concerning disputes of authorities of state institutions,” said Jimly. 

Model for other institutions

As a relatively new institution, the Constitutional Court continuously attempts to improve its performance in carrying out the mandate of the constitution. For that purpose, Jimly said that the Court is determined to be a model for other judicial institutions and other state institutions, especially in respect of transparency and state administration management. In the matter of delivering a decision, for instance, the Constitutional Court inculcates that each copy of the decision of the court can be immediately provided to related parties as soon as the mallet hits the table. Ten minutes later, the whole world is able to access it through the website of the Court.

In relation to the many critiques, comments and dissatisfactions on several of the Court’s decision, Jimly invites all parties-especially the mass media- to understand the position of the Constitutional judges who are bound by code of ethics not to comment on the decision of the Court. In other countries, mass media discourses are not directed at the substance of the decision, but on the implications of the decision on statesmanship life. “There is no media that publicizes the substance of a court’s decision, not to mention quoting comments,” said Jimly. Jimly also asked the mass media to help the Constitutional Court to build a conducive and healthy culture for the judicial system in Indonesia. (ardli/BAI)