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Sungai Penuh City general administrative assistant Mat Rasyid presented by the Government as a witness to give a statement in the judicial review hearing of Law No. 25 of 2008 on the Establishment of Sungai Penuh City in Jambi Province, Monday (7/9) in the Courtroom of the Constitutional Court. Photo by Humas MK/Ifa.

JAKARTA, Public Relations of the Constitutional Court—Asset handover from Kerinci Regency to Sungai Penuh City was done in three stages, said the president’s witness Mat Rasyid in the ninth judicial review hearing of Law No. 25 of 2008 on the Establishment of Sungai Penuh City in Jambi Province on Monday, September 7, 2020 in the Plenary Courtroom. The first stage was on May 26, 2013; the second on March 24, 2016; and the third on February 14, 2018 for part of the BUMD (regional government-owned enterprise) asset of the city-owned water company PDAM Tirta Sakti in Sungai Penuh City.

The case No. 3/PUU-XVIII/2020 was filed by 13 petitioners who are civil servant (PNS) retirees, advocates, youth figures, lecturers, and former Kerinci Regency DPRD members. They challenge Article 13 paragraph (1), (3), (5), (7), (8), and (9) of the Law on the Establishment of Sungai Penuh City.

Rasyid explained that after the Sungai Penuh mayor was appointed, the city administration organized asset and grant handover to the province and coordinate with state ministries such as the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Law and Human Rights. “It was agreed that the assets were handed over at the latest five years after the new administration was established. The handover was done gradually. At the meeting on asset handover, it was agreed that the handover had met the existing laws and regulations,” said Rasyid, who has been a Sungai Penuh City general administrative assistant since 2011.

He explained that Sungai Penuh City was established following the people’s aspiration and has met existing requirements. An academic review was done and the Government had made some decisions on the issue, for example, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued nine aspects of a new autonomous region on November 8, 2008. The problem was the handover of assets and documents, grant funding, and the affirmation of territorial borders.

“The issue of territorial orders was resolved in 2019 with the Decision of the Ministry of Home Affairs No. 25 of 2019,” he added before panel chairman Chief Justice Anwar Usman and the other constitutional justices.

Also read:

Affected by Regional Proliferation, Civil Servants Challenge Law on the Establishment of Sungai Penuh City

Proliferation Part of Government’s Effort to Improve People’s Welfare

Jambi Governor: Asset Separation between Kerinci Regency and Sungai Penuh City Lawful
Bagir Manan: Kerinci Regency Also Need Special Funds 

The issue in this case stemmed from the proliferation of Kerinci Regency into a new autonomous city named Sungai Penuh, while four other regencies in Jambi Province were expanded into regencies. This difference resulted in the movement of the regency capital to Bukit Tengah Village, Siulak Sub-district. The expansion of Kerinci Regency into two autonomous regions was the consequence of the proliferation within the conditions stipulated in the Proliferation Law.

In addition, although the new regency capital was imposed on Kerinci Regency, the special funding was given by the Central Government to Sungai Penuh City, even though the parent regency also needed funding for the development of infrastructure in the infrastructure-deficient Bukit Tengah Village. 

Before concluding the session, Chief Justice Anwar reminded that the hearing would resume on Monday, September 7, 2020 at 11:00 WIB to listen to the Petitioners’ witness and the president’s legal counsel.

Writer: Sri Pujianti
Editor: Lulu Anjarsari
PR: Lambang S.
Translator: Yuniar Widiastuti (NL)

Translation uploaded on 9/8/2020 18:30 WIB

Disclaimer: The original version of the news is in Indonesian. In case of any differences between the English and the Indonesian version, the Indonesian version will prevail.

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