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IAIN Raden Fatah students who are accompanied by his teachers visit the Constitutional Court (MK), on Monday (1/7). Visits of about 60 students are welcomed by Muhammad Alim, on the 4th floor of the Constitutional Court building, Jakarta.

On the occasion, Alim explains briefly about the State Law and Authority owned by the Court. He said that Indonesia was committed to the public interest. "Indonesia is a welfare state, which is also known as the State Board," said Alim.

Then, according to him, justice is not identical with the law. Whereas the legal justice should not generalize. "Applying that justice should not generalize," he said.

Furthermore, Alim elaborated on the authority of the Court. There are four Constitutional authorities. First, testing legislation against the constitution, called the constitutional test (constitutional review).

It is said Alim, the next Court authority is the authority to decide disputes state agency whose authority granted by the Constitution. For example, if there is a dispute the authority of Parliament and the Council have both institutions the authority granted by the Constitution.

"In any dispute, all parties felt right. Nonetheless which party is correct cannot be determined by the parties, because surely the interests of the parties to its size," said Alim.

Furthermore, said Alim, the Court authorized the dissolution of political parties, according to him; this has not been done by the Court because there has been no request from the government. Alim explains, formerly Masjumi requested Party disbanded by President Soekarno. Then the Indonesian Communist Party was dissolved by President Soeharto.

"The dissolution of political parties in advance only by sheer political power and no judicial process. Whereas now, dissolution of political parties must be filed by the government to the Constitutional Court for a trial to prove the truth of the government’s request on ideology, principles, objectives, programs and activities of the political party concerned are considered contrary to the 1945 Constitution," said Alim.

Next, said Alim, the Court authorized to decide Electoral Dispute Candidates for Members of Parliament, Council and Parliament, as well as the results of the General Election Candidates for President and Vice President who has been entered into the Court since 2004. Besides including disputes regional election results.

Election results of the original dispute the authority of the Supreme Court (MA), and then transferred to the authority of the Constitutional Court which effectively after submission of the case by the Supreme Court to the Court since 1 November 2008.

In addition to having four powers, continued Alim, the Court has a duty to make a decision on the opinion of the House on the alleged violation by the President and / or Vice President by the Constitution which is called impeachment, which means ‘prosecution’.

"The word is also commonly referred to impeachment which in Arabic means lowered. But until now this has not been done liabilities Court because there has never been such a request," said Alim.

At the same time, various questions are also raised by the students of the institution. Question after question was then answered by Alim. However, due to time constraints, Alim apologizes for not being able to answer all other questions to be asked of the students. (Utami Argawati / mh)

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