MoU signing ceremony between Acting Secretary General, Heru Setiawan and Rector UM Bima, Ridwan t. Foto: Humas/ M.Nur. Saturday (2/11/2023). Photo by MKRI/M. Nur.

---

Saturday, February 11, 2023, | 19:17 WIB

BIMA, — The Constitutional Court (MK) officially ties its partnership with Universitas Muhammadiyah Bima (UM Bima) on Saturday (11/2/2023) at UM Bima, Bima, West Nusa Tenggara. This collaboration was inaugurated through the signing of a memorandum of understanding by the Acting Secretary General of the MK, Heru Setiawan, and the Rector of UM Bima, Ridwan, witnessed by the Chairman of the MK, Anwar Usman. The signing event was accompanied by the inauguration of a smart board mini courtroom and a national seminar entitled "Potential Election Disputes in the 2024 Elections: What is the Position and Role of the MKRI."

Anwar, who was the keynote speaker, mentioned that the Regional Head Elections (Pilkada) are regulated in Article 18 paragraph (4) of the 1945 Constitution and Law Number 10 of 2016 concerning the Election of Governors, Regents, and Mayors, which are held simultaneously in several stages. The first simultaneous Pilkada was started in 2015, and the national simultaneous Pilkada will be held in 2024. In addition to the implementation of the election and supervision by the KPU and Bawaslu, the Pilkada stages also have a mechanism for resolving election violations, which are carried out according to the type of violation and its respective stage.

The violations referred to include violations of the code of ethics which is the authority of the Election Organizer Honor Council (DKPP); administrative violations which are the authority of Bawaslu; election crimes which fall under the jurisdiction of Sentra Gakumdu; and disputes over the state administrative court, which are under the jurisdiction of the Administrative Court (PTUN). "Meanwhile, to decide and resolve disputes over the acquisition of votes by participants or pairs of regional head candidates, based on Article 157 paragraph (3) of Law 10/2016, they are examined and judged by the Constitutional Court," explained Anwar.

Collaboration with the Academicians 
Regarding the collaboration with the academic world, Anwar acknowledged that since 2003 until today, it has significantly had a positive impact on improving public awareness and understanding of the 1945 Constitution. This, he continued, has been felt by the MK through the cases examined and decided by the MK. In addition, access to justice to the MK has also been made easier with long-distance court technology placed in various law faculties throughout the provinces in Indonesia. Initially, the long-distance court technology was in the form of video conference technology located in 42 universities throughout the provinces in Indonesia. However, with the development of technology, mini courtrooms were placed in law faculties in various universities in Indonesia.

"The placement of this technology, in addition to facilitating justice seekers to file cases and hold hearings at the MK, is also carried out as a form of transparency in carrying out the judicial process in the MK," said Anwar.

At the end of the speech, he appreciated all parties that the success of organizing election dispute settlement activities in the MK does not depend solely on the MK, but also depends on various parties. For that reason, he has special hopes, especially for the academic community, including Universitas Muhammadiyah Bima, to oversee the ongoing democratic process.
“The role of academics is also a pillar of democracy and a key player in the success of the 2024 Simultaneous Elections, let us together oversee this democratic process so that it remains on the right track," invited Anwar.

Improving the Education 
Meanwhile, Acting Secretary General of the Constitutional Court, Heru Setiawan, in a report on the Court's activities, stated that in 2023, the Court will provide many smart board mini courtrooms to 10 universities throughout Indonesia, including UM Bima. Heru expressed his hope that the facilities provided could be directly used by students and the entire academic community of UM Bima in supporting their role in facilitating justice seekers in legal proceedings or legal studies.

Heru realizes that the Court needs support to achieve optimal results. Therefore, through the collaboration, it is hoped that joint efforts can be made to improve understanding of the constitution and the quality of higher legal education in Indonesia.

"Today is the 271 memorandum of understanding that the Constitutional Court has. therefore, we hoped that the quality of this collaboration can be realized together, not just as a piece of paper, but as the initial footprint of starting to work together for the common good," explained Heru.
Before concluding the report, Heru invited the participants of the national seminar to realize the shared goal of maintaining the accessibility of the Constitutional Court to the Bima community. After the signing of this memorandum of understanding, the Court will organize UM Bima into a part of the Court's video conference management team.

"A team will be formed consisting of administrators, and implementers, and at any time, the Court will provide various information about its activities that can then be followed by students, starting from the agenda of the court proceedings to the reading of the Court's decision," Heru stated.

Disseminating the Constitution

UM Bima's Rector, Ridwan, in his speech, stated that with the signing of the memorandum of understanding with the Constitutional Court, UM Bima is expected to play a positive role in popularizing the constitution and the 1945 Constitution.

"Previously, as academic, UM Bima had also played a role in popularizing constitutional awareness and maintaining the integrity of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. In 2023, UM Bima has gradually developed, from one program to five programs, and the number of students has increased, as evidenced by the land acquisition and the inauguration of the second campus of UM Bima, which is not far from the first campus," said Ridwan in the event, which was also attended by several local officials in Bima. (*)

---

Author: Sri Pujianti
Editor: Lulu Anjarsari P.
Translator: Azzahra Salsabilla (NL)

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

---