Constitutional Court researcher Pan Mohamad Faiz welcoming law students of the University of Indonesia, Wednesday (31/10). Photo by Humas MK/Ifa.

Law students of the University of Indonesia visited the Constitutional Court on Wednesday (31/10/2018). They were welcomed by researcher Pan Mohamad Faiz at the Meeting Room of the Constitutional Court.

Faiz spoke about the initial idea of the establishment of a constitutional court after the independence, proposed by Muhammad Yamin. “The idea was not realized because it was rejected by Soepomo because at that time, there were not many legal scholars,” he said. After the Reforms, the Indonesian Constitutional Court was established on August 13, 2003. Its first Chief Justice Jimly Asshiddiqie built the foundation for e-Court, in the hope that the Court would be a judiciary based on information technology that is easily available online.

Faiz detailed the authorities of the Court: the judicial review of laws against the 1945 Constitution, the resolution of interagency authority dispute, the resolution of legislative and presidential election result dispute, and the dissolution of political parties. One obligation granted to the Court is deciding on the House’s opinion of alleged violation committed by the president and/or vice president. He also said that the Indonesian and South Korean Constitutional Courts have similar authorities and obligation, save for resolving the results of general elections.

Faiz said the Constitutional Court has three functions: guardian of constitution, state ideology as well as guardian of democracy; protector of citizen’s constitutional right and of human rights; as well as final interpreter of constitution.

The students also visited the Constitution History Center (Puskon) to broaden their insight of the history of constitution in Indonesia. (Arif Satriantoro/LA/Yuniar Widiastuti)