The Petitioner’s attorney after the judicial review hearing of the Protocol Law, Thursday (10/9) in the Constitutional Court. Photo by Humas MK/Gani.

JAKARTA, Public Relations of the Constitutional Court—The preliminary judicial review hearing of Law No. 9 of 2010 on Protocols was held by the Constitutional Court (MK) on Thursday afternoon, September 10, 2020. The petition No. 72/PUU-XVIII/2020 was filed by Abu Bakar, a daily worker. He challenges Article 9 paragraph (1) letters e and m of the Protocol Law.

Article 9 paragraph (1) letter e of the Protocol Law reads, “Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia,” followed by letter m, “Deputy Speaker of thePeople’s Consultative Assembly of the Republic of Indonesia, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia, Governor of Bank Indonesia, Chairman of the Election Commission, Deputy Chairman of the Audit Board of the Republic of Indonesia, Deputy Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Indonesia, Deputy Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Indonesia, and the Deputy Chairman of the Judicial Commission of the Republic of Indonesia.”

Through attorney Munatsir Mustaman, the Petitioner said that as a voter in the 2019 legislative election, he objects to the article, which doesn’t explain the House Speaker’s seating arrangement at state and official events. This, he said, leads to uncertainty as it doesn’t reflect the collective authority and collegiality of House leaders. He believes that this, in turn, will harm the honor and dignity of the House.

Constitutional Justice Enny Nurbaningsih advised the Petitioner to include the touchstones against which the article is reviewed. Constitutional Justice Manahan M. P. Sitompul advised him to merge the introduction section to the legal standing or posita of the petition. He also requested that the Petitioner detail his identity to better support his legal standing. Constitutional Justice Daniel Yusmic P. Foekh said that the Petitioner’s identity as a daily worker didn’t convince the justices of his constitutional loss.

Writer: Nano Tresna Arfana
Editor: Nur R.
PR: Fitri Yuliana
Photographer: Gani
Translator: Yuniar Widiastuti (NL)

Translation uploaded on 9/11/2020 18:06 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.