Chief Constitutional Justice in the legal seminar “National Leadership in Law Enforcement Perspective” organized by Cendekia Muda Nusantara. Photo by Humas MK/Dedy.

“It is inaccurate to say that the regression or progress of a country depends on the economy. If its law enforcement is despotic, ruin is awaiting,” said Chief Justice Anwar Usman in his keynote speech in the legal seminar “National Leadership in Law Enforcement Perspective” organized by Cendekia Muda Nusantara on Thursday afternoon (15/11) at Bidakara Hotel, Jakarta.

He explained that Surah Annisa verse 58 in the Quran reads, “… when you judge between people, you judge with justice….” “It does not say judge according to law, because many laws, rules, and legislations are unjust. So God has warned that law enforcement is not merely enforcing law, but [pursuing] justice,” Justice Anwar said.

That is why, he said, every decision by the constitutional justices starts with, “For the sake of justice under the One Almighty God.” Without it, the decision is invalid. “It is extraordinary. It means that the Court’s decision is directly accountable to the Almighty God,” Justice Anwar stressed. He further said that like the destroyed Mesopotamia, when a sovereign rules in tyranny and enslaves the people, the nation will end up in ruins.

Justice Anwar further explained that Article 24 (paragraph 1) of the 1945 Constitution maintains that the power of the judiciary is an independent power to conduct justice to uphold law and justice. “Article 24 paragraph (1) of the 1945 Constitution is the result of amendments to the Constitution. There had been an amendment, but there was no word \'justice\' in the article. [The latest amendment shows that] the Indonesian Constitution commands to uphold law and justice,” he said.

Ahead of the 2019Presidential Election (Pilpres) and Legislative Election (Pileg), Justice Anwar advised that those elected President and Vice President carry out leadership as did Caliph Abu Bakr Al-Shiddiq in the past. “When he was elected Caliph, he said, ‘I am not the best of you. If I am right, follow me. If I am wrong, rebuke me,\'” he explained. (Nano Tresna Arfana/LA/Yuniar Widiastuti)