MPR Chair: Limited Amendment To The 1945 Constitution Is Needed To Accommodate PPHN

JAKARTA - Chairman of the MPR Bambang Soesatyo assesses that there is a need to amend the Constitution to accommodate the Basic Principles of State Policy (PPHN). Therefore, a limited amendment to the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia is needed, especially the addition of the MPR's authority to stipulate PPHN.

"The process of changing the Constitution in accordance with the provisions of Article 37 of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia has strict requirements and mechanisms. Therefore, amendments to the Constitution can only be made to articles that are proposed to be amended along with the reasons," said Bambang Soesatyo in his introductory speech to the MPR Annual Session at the Nusantara Building, Jakarta Parliament Complex, Monday, August 16.

Thus, continued Bambang, limited amendments do not allow for opening Pandora's box, which is excessive to changes in other articles. "Moreover, the spirit to make changes is the philosophical foundation of national politics in the context of structuring a better state administration system," he said.

Bamsoet explained that the large flow of community and regional aspirations requires the need for structuring the Indonesian state administration system. In particular, the national development management system is more democratic, transparent, accountable, integrated and sustainable.

"Various views of the community state that the same vision in national and regional development plans in the short, medium and long term is needed, so that national development orientation is more focused on efforts to achieve state goals as stated in the Preamble to the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia," he said.

The results of the 2019-2024 MPR study, continued Bamsoet, stated that there was a need for a philosophical and directive PPHN in national development. The existence of a philosophical PPHN, he said, was important to ensure the portrait of Indonesia's future.

"The next 50-100 years will be full of dynamics of national, regional and global developments as a result of the industrial revolution, the development of science, technology and information," he explained.

Bamsoet added that the existence of a directive PPHN will certainly not reduce the Government's authority to prepare a blueprint for national development, both in the form of the Long-Term Development Plan (RPJP) and the Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJM).

“PPHN will be the ideological and constitutional umbrella in the preparation of the SPPN, RPJP, and RPJM which are more technocratic. With the PPHN, the government's visionary strategic plan will be guaranteed to be implemented in a sustainable manner, not limited by the electoral periodization of the government," he explained.

"The PPHN will be the basis of every strategic plan of the government, such as the relocation of the State Capital from DKI Jakarta Province to East Kalimantan Province, development of sea highway infrastructure, sky toll roads, connectivity between regions, and other strategic development plans," he added.

The MPR Annual Session was held in a simple and limited manner, attended by President Joko Widodo and Vice President KH Ma'ruf Amin, Deputy Chairmen of the MPR, DPR Chair Puan Maharani and Deputy Speaker of the DPR, DPD Chair La Nyalla Mattalitti and Deputy DPD Chairperson, MA Muhammad Syarifuddin, Chairperson of the People's Consultative Assembly. MK Anwar Usman, Chairman of KY Mukti Fajar Nur Dewata, as well as several ministers of the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet, the TNI Commander and the National Police Chief.

Also present were Fifth President Megawati Soekarnoputri, former vice presidents Try Sutrisno, Hamzah Haz, Jusuf Kalla, and Boediono, MPR members, ambassadors of friendly countries, and diaspora communities abroad.