Constitutional Justice Saldi Isra giving a general lecture at the national all-pesantren constitutional debating competition, Friday (12/10) at the Syaria and Law Faculty of UIN Sunan Kalijaga. Photo by Humas MK.

The Constitutional Court, in collaboration with the Syaria and Law Faculty of UIN Sunan Kalijaga, organized the national all-pesantren constitutional debating competition and a national seminar on "Building Democratic Awareness and Constitutional Rights in the Constitutional Court," Friday–Sunday (12–14/10/2018). 24 pesantrens from all over the country participated in the debating competition.

Head of Public Relations and Protocol Department Rubiyo representing the Secretary General, in his address, said that the routine event aimed to disseminate constitutional awareness. This year santris participate in the competition.

Rubiyo said that since the Constitutional Court is only located in Jakarta, it collaborates with law faculties who become friends of the court. The Court also facilitates video conference in 42 universities, who can be utilized by people in the regions who intend to submit petitions to the Court without having to come to the Court. The Court also provides videos that can be streamed on the Court’s website, so that the public can monitor the cases that the Court is handling.

Constitutional Justice Saldi Isra, who delivered a general lecture and closed the event, urged that the young generation be taught to think critically. In his opinion, the constitutional debating competition can be a means to teach Indonesian youth to think critically and to voice their opinions openly and accountably.

“It is not enough for the young generation to only read information on their gadgets. Read books. Train yourselves to write and voice an argument so that Indonesia will have a young generation that can think constructively. Last but not least, I would like to thank the pesantren students participating in the debating competition. Hopefully you will all understand the values of law and Constitution,” he said. (ASF/LA/Yuniar Widiastuti)