Secretary General M. Guntur Hamzah welcoming Constitution Forum (FK), Wednesday (8/1). Photo by Humas MK/Gani.

JAKARTA, Public Relations of the Constitutional Court—Constitutional Court (MK) Secretary General M. Guntur Hamzah welcomed Jakob Tobing, Baharuddin Aritonang, Zain Badjeber, Gregorius Seto Harianto, and Pataniari Siahaan of the Constitution Forum (FK), Wednesday (8/1/2020) at the 11^th floor of the Constitutional Court.

Both institutions discussed constitutional issues and cooperation between the two. "The Constitutional Court and the Constitutional Forum have somewhat been out of touch. The Constitutional Court and the Constitutional Forum forged an institutional relationship that inspires one another. The relationship between the [both] must be strengthened. We have a lot to discuss," said Pataniari Siahaan.

Pataniari also talked about the need to renew the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two that had been made several years ago. "The renewal of the MoU of the Constitutional Court-Constitutional Forum needs to be done in accordance with the times," said Siahaan.

Jakob Tobing stressed that one way to maintain good relations between the Constitutional Court and the FK was to review transcripts on the Constitution including its formation In order to avoid misinterpretation and to understand the various systems that exist in society both the electoral system, the regional government system, and so on.

Baharuddin Aritonang added the need to renew the MoU, which covers various programs. "The Constitutional Forum are ready to help the Constitutional Court develop programs [to improve] constitutional understanding, both modern and the original intent," he said.

Secretary General M. Guntur Hamzah said that the Constitutional Court still needed the FK to support various Court activities. "We will improve and renew the MoU of the Constitutional Court-Constitutional Forum," he explained in a meeting attended by the Head of the Public Relations and Protocol Bureau Heru Setiawan.

Guntur added that the updated MoU would cover several activities that needed to be synergized between. "We hope to organize activities regarding the original intent of the Constitution. Constitutional experts can provide an understanding of the original intent of the Constitution," he added.

Guntur said that, for example, the FK can hold training and dissemination programs for Court researchers and substitute registrars regarding the original intent of the Constitution as well as to disseminate the original intent of the Constitution to the public who visit the Constitutional Court, be it community leaders, organizations, or students. (Nano Tresna Arfana)

Translated by: Yuniar Widiastuti