Mahfud MD Reminds People Not To Be Too Optimistic With MKMK: Sometimes They Can Be Engineered

JAKARTA - Candidate for vice president (cawapres) Ganjar Pranowo, Mahfud MD reminded all parties not to be too optimistic about the performance of the Honorary Council of the Constitutional Court (MKMK) in handling alleged ethical violations related to the presidential and vice presidential age decisions.

This was conveyed by Mahfud in response to the establishment of the MKMK which will try the alleged conflict of interest of the Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court (MK) Anwar Usman because the decision he knocked was considered to smooth the way for his nephew, Solo Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka to run in the 2024 presidential election.

"Currently in the process of one panel of honorary judges, it has been announced that a panel of honorary judges will be formed to judge ethically the judges suspected of committing violations," Mahfud said while attending the Meet and Greet event with Ganjar Pranowo in the Blok M area, Jakarta, Monday, October 23.

"But, yes, don't be too optimistic either because sometimes who will be the assembly can sometimes be bought, it can be engineered too," he continued.

The former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court said the worst decision could happen. "So this decision could happen if the situation of development and legal fulfillment is still as it is now," said Mahfud.

Thus, all parties are expected to learn to prevent this from happening again. Including, the joining of judges in cases related to his family.

"This is a lesson for all of us so that in the future it can no longer happen," said the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam).

Previously reported, the Constitutional Court granted part of the request for Case Number 90/PUU-XXI/2023 submitted by an Indonesian citizen named Almas Tsaqibbirru Re A from Surakarta, Central Java.

With this decision, Article 169 letter (q) of the Election Law fully reads "The lowest age is 40 (fourty) years or has been / is currently in the position chosen through general elections including regional head elections".

Based on Case Decision Number 90/PUU-XXI/2023, there are different reasons (concurring opinions) from two constitutional judges, namely Enny Nurbaningsih and Daniel Yusmic P. Foekh, as well as dissenting opinions from four constitutional judges, namely Wahiduddin Adams, Saldi Isra, Arief Hidayat, and Suhartoyo.

After this decision was concluded, the Mayor of Gibran Rakabuming Raka was finally decided to accompany the presidential candidate from the Advanced Indonesia Coalition (KIM) who is also the General Chair of the Gerindra Party, Prabowo Subianto. They will register with the General Election Commission (KPU) on Wednesday, October 25.