Chief Constitutional Justice Anwar Usman giving keynote speech in the national seminar hosted by Pelita Harapan University (UPH) in collaboration with the Constitutional Court, Friday (4/10) at UPH Karawaci. Photo by Humas MK/Hamdi Vigo.

JAKARTA, Public Relations of the Constitutional Court—The Constitutional Court (MK) in collaboration with Pelita Harapan University (UPH) organized a national seminar on "The Identity of the Indonesian Constitution within the Vision of Global Constitutionalism" on Friday (4/10/2019) at UPH Karawaci, Tangerang. UPH Rector Jonathan L. Parapak, UPH Law Faculty Dean Bintan R. Saragih, Head of Law Department Vincensia Esti, and UPH Law Faculty students attended the seminar.

In his keynote address, Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court Anwar Usman explained the function of the Constitutional Court as the guardian and interpreter of the constitution, the protector of citizens\' constitutional rights, and the upholders of the country\'s ideology. Because Pancasila as the state ideology is part of the 1945 Constitution as the Indonesian constitution, upholding the constitution is the same as upholding the state ideology. 

In addition, Justice Anwar also explained that law enforcers, who are part of the legal structure, plays the most important role. In any legal concept or system, law enforcers are required to better understand the ideals of the law and explore the values of justice in settling every legal case. 

"In the hands of law enforcers, law is displayed. In their hands too, lies the obligation to implement the principles of justice, as contained in the legal concept and system more optimally," he explained.

Furthermore, Justice Anwar revealed that law enforcement in Indonesia is an effort to revitalize and internalize Pancasila as a legal ideal for law enforcement officials. The transformation of Pancasila values as a paradigm in Indonesian law enforcement becomes a necessity. "The main goal is to ensure that the values of Pancasila always flow and stay in every law enforcement activity in Indonesia," he said.

Law enforcement is not merely the responsibility of law enforcers, but it is the joint responsibility of all Indonesian citizens. Community legal awareness to comply with legal values and norms is also important to be realized. "The culture of community legal awareness is an inseparable element for the enforcement of the country\'s laws and constitution. Therefore, if people\'s legal awareness can be realized, the Indonesian constitution as the national identity will stand firm in the midst of global constitutionalism that affects each other," he concluded. (Hamdi/Bayu/NRA)

Translated by: Yuniar Widiastuti