Yusril: Democracy is not enough just through political procedures

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Legal, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra emphasized that democracy is not enough to be carried out through political procedures, but must be supported by the rule of law, ethics, and maturity in managing differences.

"We cannot impose our will on others even though we are in a majority position, we must formulate something with good words and good ways. Language shows a nation, good language shows a good nation," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, July 8.

The affirmation was delivered during a national oration and inaugurated the Center for Constitutional and Democracy Studies (PUSAKAD) of PGRI University Kanjuruhan Malang, East Java, on Tuesday (7/7).

Yusril said law and politics have a close relationship in state life.

Therefore, he emphasized the importance of building an Indonesian democracy based on the rule of law, ethics, and local wisdom values.

According to Yusril, the rule of law and democracy must go hand in hand. Power must be subject to the law, while democracy must be carried out with honesty, responsibility, and respect for human values.

He also reminded that the development of technology and artificial intelligence must still be directed by ethical values because progress without a moral foundation can lose its human purpose.

In addition, Yusril said local wisdom and national culture must be the source of values in the development of national law.

According to him, local wisdom values need to be raised as a foundation in building a nation. Indonesian law also continues to undergo transformation through various values that live in society, including basic law, customary law, and religious law.

However, he continued, national law must still reflect the nation's identity within the framework of a democratic rule of law.

"Our law in the future must be in line with the spirit and spirit of our own nation, in a democratic context," he said.

To students, Yusril advised that when they plunge into the world of politics or other professions, they prioritize the interests of the community and produce policies that are beneficial for future generations.

He assessed that Indonesia has great potential thanks to its strategic position and abundant natural wealth. However, this potential must be accompanied by improvements to the education system and the improvement of human resources quality.

"The most important thing is that the strategic areas and the extraordinary natural wealth that we have have not been fully utilized. The face of our education must be changed," he said.