Chief Justice Anwar Usman signing Memorandum of Understanding between the Constitutional Court and UNNES. Photo by Humas MK/Hamdi.

SEMARANG, Public Relations of the Constitutional Court—The Constitutional Court (MK) and Semarang State University (UNNES) signed a Memorandum of Understanding and organized a focus group discussion (FGD) on “Money Politics from the Perspectives of the Public, Constitution, and Democracy” on Friday (29/3/2019). The program was organized toward improving constitutional understanding of the citizens and improving the quality of legal higher education as well as part of UNNES anniversary celebration.

Attending the event were Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) Chairman  Abhan, Head of the Legal Bureau of the General Elections Commission (KPU) Noer Susanto, Election Organizer Ethics Council (DKPP) member Ida Budhiati, UNNES Rector Fathur Rokhman, UNNES Law Faculty Dean Rodiyah, regional KPU and Bawaslu, political party representatives, as well as lecturers and students of universities all across Semarang Municipality.

Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court Anwar Usman opened the event and delivered a keynote address in the event. Starting his presentation, he praised the theme raised in the FGD. He said that from the perspectives of society, the Constitution, and democracy there is money politics, which he said no teaching of any religion tolerates. "Money politics is only a term that is packaged in such a way and is associated with elections. However, from a religious perspective, and I am sure Bawaslu also understands what is meant by money politics," Anwar said before some 150 participants.

According to Justice Anwar, in Islam the foundation is clear and there were even warnings from Prophet Muhammad. He said, people who give and accept bribes will be cursed by God. And money politics is a heavy sin and cursed by God. No single religion tolerates it. “Further, of course positions achieved by bribes are part of money politics. Money politics is just euphemism,” he said.

Justice Anwar hoped materials from the speakers can be socialized to all people, especially those eligible to vote, so that they do not vote because of money. According to him. when casting a ballot in the legislative and presidential elections because of money, not come from one’s own conscience, it is equals punishing oneself because one is committing an act contrary to their conscience.

The Constitutional Court will serve as the last guardian of the entire elections, after the KPU and Bawaslu performs their duties. Whatever the outcome, the results lies with the Constitutional Court. He said, the Court actually hoped that the process would only end with the KPU. House membership and the presidency is predestined, so there is no need to overdo it. 

“If any party is not satisfied with the KPU decision, [just wait for a decision from the Constitutional Court as to who will be president and vice president]. Of course, the Court will not decide arbitrarily who will be president, if the case ends up at the Court,” he added. He also said that each party will submit evidence and facts. Therefore, the Court felt the need to organize technical assistance programs for all political parties as well as presidential/vice presidential candidates. He believes that the Court, through the Pancasila and Constitution Education Center, will bring together the campaign teams at one program so that they will understand the rights and responsibilities in relation to Law No. 7 of 2017 on General Elections.

At the end of his address, Justice Anwar said that the discussion organized by the Court and UNNES will help the implementation of smooth legislative and presidential elections, so that the results will be free of money politics. “Hopefully the event on this holy day will bring blessings for the nation and state in the future. Whoever will be elected shall be the result of elections that have integrity, that is free of [violations] and money politics,” he said. (Utami/LA/Yuniar Widiastuti)