Deputy Chief Justice Saldi Isra opening a book review event by the Court and the National Library and delivering a book review, Thursday (6/22/2023). Photo by Humas MK/Hendy.

---

JAKARTA (MKRI) — The Constitutional Court (MK) held a book review event in collaboration with the National Library on Thursday, June 22, 2023 at the National Library, Jakarta. The hybrid event was attended by 206 on-site participants and 449 online participants. The books were reviewed at the event: “Oligarki dan Totalitarianisme Baru” (New Oligarchy and Totalitarianism) by former constitutional justice Jimly Asshiddiqie; “The Constitutional Court and Human Rights Protection in Indonesia” by former constitutional justice I Dewa Gede Palguna, Deputy Chief Justice Saldi Isra, and expert assistant to constitutional justice Pan Mohamad Faiz; as well as “Dinamika Praktik Perencanaan Legislasi” (The Dynamics of Legislation Planning Practices) by Constitutional Justice Enny Nurbaningsih.

In his remarks, Deputy Chief Justice Saldi Isra said the Court had published over 150 books. “The Court must focus on this, on literacy,” he said. If the tradition continues, the civilization will not be in ruin.

Jimly Asshiddiqie started the idea of writing in the Constitutional Court. “I said that expert assistants to constitutional justices must at least complete writing a book each year. As such, the Court will publish books each year,” Deputy Chief Justice Saldi Isra said.

He also said that the Court had made book writing an annual agenda. “This year the Constitutional Court will be 20 years old in August 13. We plan to launch at least the same number of books as we did last year. At least 35 this year. We will invite former constitutional justices to write books and publish them coinciding with the Court’s 20th anniversary,” he said.

Foreword

At the event, former constitutional justice of 2003–2008 Jimly Asshiddiqie delivered a presentation on “The Judiciary’s Reading-Writing Culture to Realize Constitutional Justice and Truth Based on Pancasila.” He had observed that the Court could be called the constitutional campus of Indonesia. Since its establishment, especially during the first 5 years, its justices have produced many books. Therefore, to increase the role of the writing tradition, which has been cultivated by previous justices, it should be spread to within the Court and other branches of the judiciary.

In the early days, Jimly revealed, every justice was obligated to write legal opinions and considerations in writing so they would always write, besides their legal opinions and considerations.

Book Review

“However, we know that an advanced civilization can be observed from its writing culture. One more thing, there must be debate because justice must be debated and justices are allowed to engage in such debates. Justice must be reached from thinking and debates by all nine constitutional justices,” he explained.

Meanwhile, in his report, Secretary-General Heru Setiawan explained that since the Court signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Library in November 2018, the two institutions have done many things. One of them is organizational development, especially library development in terms of organization, human resources, and technology. In addition, the Constitutional Court and the National Library have also been working together to keep producing academic papers and books by constitutional justices and Constitutional Court employees, motivated by the Court’s academic tradition. They remain committed to continuing to produce works.

“These works are routinely written and launched every year as part of the evidence for the public that the Constitutional Court will continue to provide the widest possible information to all levels of society relating to law and the Constitution through its works,” Heru stressed.

Author       : Utami Argawati
Editor        : Lulu Anjarsari P.
Translator  : Yuniar Widiastuti (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.

---