Mahfud Said, Jokowi's Critics Like Fahri-Fadli Can Get An Award As Long As He Is Free From Legal Cases

JAKARTA - The Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menkopolhukam) Mahfud MD said that legislative officials who often criticized President Joko Widodo's leadership, such as Fahri Hamzah and Fadli Zon, could still receive awards. Originally, they don't have a legal case.

This is in response to public questions about the embedding of Fahri Hamzah and Fadli Zon as one of the recipients of the award of the Star Mahaputera Nararya (Jokowi) at the Presidential Palace today.

"All former chairmen and deputy heads of state institutions, as long as there is no legal problem, can receive (awarding a token of respect)," Mahfud said in a webinar with journalists, Thursday, August 13.

Mahfud admitted that there were officials who received the Bintang Jasa award who had stumbled into legal cases and corruption. However, Mahfud said they could receive an award because the embedding was given before committing the crime.

"Indeed, there were those who then got legal problems, for example Irman Gusman (former Chairman of the DPD) had received Bintang Mahaputera before the case. Then, Mr. Jero Wacik, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources at that time. Then Pak Surya Dharma Ali, Taufiqurahman who is currently imprisoned," Mahfud explained.

Furthermore, Mahfud said that Fahri and Fadli, as well as 56 other people, could receive honors for having services and devotion to the nation.

Of course, he said, they were selected based on the criteria of Law Number 20 of 2009. In Article 30, it is stated that recipients of Bintang Jasa are proposed by a state agency or institution.

After the names of prospective recipients are proposed, the Council for Title, Service Mark and Honor will conduct a selection process with two conditions, namely general conditions and special requirements.

"When Mas Fahri Hamzah and Fadli Zon were proposed to get Bintang, we selected them. He was once the deputy chairman of the DPR. Then we selected, we checked that it met the requirements," said Mahfud.

"We must not reject it, it must be objectively. If someone says that (Fahri and Fadli) are people who are anti-government, very critical. Not if people are critical but their rights are not given," he added.

It is known, every year the President of the Republic of Indonesia will give a sign of honor to a number of figures from various backgrounds. This honor mark is given to people who are considered to be of outstanding service in various fields which are beneficial to the progress, welfare and prosperity of the nation and state.

As for Law Number 20 of 2009 concerning Titles, Service Marks, and Honors, Article 17 states that there are a number of requirements for the recipient of titles, services and honors, namely Indonesian citizens or someone who is struggling in an area that is now the territory of the Republic of Indonesia; have moral integrity and exemplary; be of service to the nation and state; and of good behavior.

Apart from that, the recipient must be loyal and not betray the nation and state; and have never been sentenced to imprisonment based on a court decision that has permanent legal force for committing a criminal act which is punishable by imprisonment of at least 5 years.