The Labor Party is very grateful that the judicial review lawsuit against the Regional Election Law was granted by the Constitutional Court (MK). This was acknowledged by the President of the Labor Party, Ir. H. Said Iqbal, ME as the applicant. Now, they can nominate their own regional head candidates even though they do not have representatives in the DPRD. This Constitutional Court decision revives hopes that have been almost buried for so long.
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Legislation made by the ruling parties tends to benefit certain parties, while other parties have to fight extra hard because they are hampered by heavy regulations. The Regional Election Law is a real example; only parties that have representatives in the Regional People's Representative Council can nominate candidates for regional head or deputy regional head.
This situation was later realized by the Labor Party. Said Iqbal representing the Labor Party together with Muhammad Anis Matta representing the Indonesian People's Wave Party (Gelora) filed a judicial review application for Article 40 paragraph (3) of Law Number 10 of 2016 concerning Regional Head Elections to the Constitutional Court. "Alhamdulillah, our lawsuit was granted by the Constitutional Court with decision Number 60/PUU-XXII/2024. At almost the same time, there was also a party that filed a judicial review for the age limit for regional head candidates. The Constitutional Court issued its decision Number 70/PUU-XXII/2024 Concerning Age Requirements for Regional Head Candidates in Regional Elections," said Said Iqbal.
This decision is an important milestone for the Labor Party and other parties. This is the time for them to be able to nominate their own regional head candidates. “We don’t want only big parties to be able to nominate their candidates. Because the requirement is to have at least 20% of seats in the DPRD or a coalition of political parties, that’s tough for new parties like us. We sued so that parties that don’t have seats in parliament can also nominate regional head candidates. And it turns out that the Constitutional Court listened to our aspirations,” he said.
What made Said even happier was that what the Constitutional Court gave exceeded existing expectations, aka ultra petitum. “We filed a judicial review lawsuit, it turns out that what the Constitutional Court decided was ultra petita. What we asked for was only to be able to nominate, it turns out that the parliamentary threshold was also lowered to 7.5% of the DPT of each region. I said that the Constitutional Court judges showed their conscience in this decision,” Said Iqbal told Edy Suherli, Bambang Eros, Irfan Meidianto, and Dandi Juniar when visiting the VOI office in the Tanah Abang area, Central Jakarta.
He also answered about the August 22 demonstration that made the Indonesian House of Representatives “give up” and not continue discussing the Regional Election Law. Iqbal also responded to the viral video after the demonstration showing him returning from the demonstration in a luxury car. Here is an excerpt.
The Labor Party, Said Iqbal said, received a blessing from the granting of a judicial review of the Pilkada Law. (Photo; Bambang Eros, DI: Raga Granada VOI)
You filed a judicial review for the Law on Regional Head Elections, what is the basis for that?
Judicial review conducted by the Labor Party, and the Gelora Party that we invited. Later, they were blamed by their coalition partners (KIM). We want to uphold democracy; in a democratic system, people cannot be prevented from voting or because of certain powers people cannot be elected. The big parties in Senayan (DPR RI) are so powerful. They determine the parliamentary threshold, the presidential threshold, the rules for establishing a party that are difficult, etc. It's all about procedures that make democracy unhealthy.
Procedurally correct, but it doesn't solve the substantial ones. The proof is, workers' wages remain cheap, the elite remain in power, political parties form coalitions to block good people who are actually wanted by the people. Therefore, every political party when they become an election participant, they have the right to fight to nominate regional heads, presidents and vice presidents, ministers, etc. That is a democratic process in which political parties have the same rights.
So they are not allowed to prevent people from voting and prevent people from being elected?
Yes, they are not allowed. I see that the parties in Senayan want to maintain the status quo. That's why we filed a judicial review of the Regional Head Election Law. We don't want only big parties to be able to nominate their candidates. Because the requirement is to have a minimum of 20% of seats in the DPRD or a coalition of political parties, that's tough for new parties like us. We are suing so that parties that don't have seats in parliament can also nominate regional head candidates. Not just support.
We filed a judicial review lawsuit since May 20, 2024. It turns out that what the Constitutional Court decided was ultra petita. What we asked for was only to be able to nominate, it turned out that the parliamentary threshold was also lowered to 7.5% of the DPT of each region. I said that the Constitutional Court judge showed his conscience in this decision.
Usually every time there is an action you always spread a press release, but not when filing this judicial review, did the Labor Party deliberately carry out a silent operation?
Actually, what we are testing is whether or not non-parliamentary political parties are allowed to nominate candidates. At the same time, there are also those who are suing about the age limit for regional head candidates. All were granted at the same time, finally it was a scene. Political parties that had lost hope came back to life. For example, PDIP, which initially could not nominate candidates, was finally able to, because the threshold was lowered. All of this was a scene because Anies Baswedan was in Jakarta.
In the context of this Constitutional Court ruling, there was an attempt by the DPR to rebel, even though the Constitutional Court ruling was final and there was no other way. However, the DPR tried to override the Constitutional Court ruling, finally various groups pressed and demonstrated. When the Constitutional Court decided on the age limit for vice presidential candidates (Gibran), no one sued. But now it's the opposite. That's called cowardice, the essence of democracy is choosing and being chosen, so don't be afraid, just compete. All elements united because they considered democracy was being hijacked, the constitution was being overridden, the elite felt powerful in the name of a coalition of large parties. Finally, the effort to make the DPR plenary session to revise the Pilkada Law was postponed because of strong pressure from the masses.
Who do you think is the intellectual actor behind all of this?
It is someone who has financial power, who does not want democracy to live. He wants to control the actors of democracy. The pillars of democracy are political parties, civil society, journalists, and there is one more added by Jimly Asshiddiqie; namely the market mechanism. Among the four pillars, the strongest is the political party. By regulation, it represents the interests of the other pillars. Imagine, political parties as the most important force are co-opted by the power of money? This is the intellectual actor. Who is he? Yes, anyone who uses the power of money to buy everything. Remember, Indonesia is not for sale.
This intellectual actor does not want to lose after he spends his money. He will ask for mining concessions, palm oil concessions, etc. There is one person who owns 3 million hectares of land. This is crazy, contradictory to the lower class who have to pay installments for decades to own land and a 21-meter house. This can happen because democracy is hijacked by the power of money. Procedurally correct, but the substance benefits the owners of capital, this is what the Labor Party opposes.
According to Said Iqbal, the granting of their judicial review of the Pilkada Law revived hopes that were almost buried. (Photo; Bambang Eros, DI: Raga Granada VOI)
What's the next action?
The Labor Party's lawsuit against the Regional Election Law was granted regarding the parliamentary threshold. Next, we will also sue the presidential threshold. So as many candidates as possible, don't be afraid, later they will be filtered in the second round which will take the two highest votes. Don't condition someone from the start that they cannot appear through a coalition of political parties. The Labor Party is different from Golkar, they cannot be forced to join. Conversely, Golkar also cannot be forced to join the Labor Party.
In a democracy, we must respect differences, but together to realize the goal. You may be rich, but in the process don't make us poor. You may be rich, but don't make labor wages cheap. That's more or less the illustration.
Why not sue the presidential threshold to 0% if there is an idea in that direction?
It takes a process to get there. The direction is there, but we will do it in stages.
For the action on August 22, how many workers came?
Initially we thought this was an event for the Labor Party to consolidate first. On Wednesday night on one of the TV stations, I said that the Labor Party would demonstrate on August 22, please join if anyone wants to. It turned out that those who came were beyond my expectations. There were so many who came. Comedians, artist Reza Rahadian, and influencers, we didn't know they would come. They came because of one ideal and resistance, the constitution must stand. The DPR cannot just go against the Constitutional Court's decision. Students, workers, academics, and activists not only surrounded the DPR RI building, but also the Constitutional Court building.
Reza Rahadian told me that he had not been very interested in politics, but now he could no longer remain silent. That's why he came and gave a speech. Comedians who usually joke around also felt called to speak up. DPR members cannot feel like they are the best. That's why when they wanted to meet the demonstrators, they were pelted with water bottles.
What is your reaction to this bottle throwing?
Yes, the bottle throwing action was indeed excessive. Actually it is not allowed, but when they saw DPR members, they expressed their anger in that way. I was surprised myself.
After the big demonstration, the politicians turned around, they supported the Constitutional Court's decision, what do you think?
Yes, that's how cunning politicians are. The founders of this republic; Soekarno, Hatta, Moh Yamin, Kasman Singodimedjo, M. Natsir, Hasyim Asy'ari, Wahid Hasyim, they were honest figures when it came to politics. They could be different but firm in their stance. Politics is not bad, it becomes bad when politicians use it as a tool to seek power. But if politics is used as a goal to realize ideals, their power will be different. All politicians must learn about this.
There was a viral video of me returning from the demonstration on August 22nd in a luxury car, what is your clarification?
I have often been cornered. Before yesterday, I was questioned about having a luxury house. The more I clarified it, the more the bullying became. Finally, I chose not to react. The car I used was a 2008 model. It was not more expensive than the latest people's car. Oh well, that was part of people's efforts to find my weaknesses when I expressed my stance. So there is no need to clarify, let my friends judge for themselves. That is the risk of struggle.
Does that mean you are getting people's attention?
We live with a commitment to goals, we don't need to be influenced by people's perceptions that are not necessarily true. We work with conviction to realize our ideals. Be yourself, live a normal life.
An activist must have a permanent job. So that the goodness he wants to give to others or himself, does not depend on the interest in making money. So that it is not easily "bought". Then if an activist has extra money, what's wrong? As long as it is obtained in a halal and good way, why not?
The Constitutional Court Decision No. 60 benefits several political parties. The Labor Party then gave its support to Anies Baswedan, Airin Rachmi Diany, and Dedi Mulyadi to advance as regional head candidates. How do you explain this?
Because of the Constitutional Court decision, the Labor Party, which is not in parliament, can nominate candidates for the regional elections. If they do nominate them, the opportunity to include party ideas becomes more open. It can also remind candidates to stay on track with the political party that supports them. Even when there is a change of leadership in the middle of the road, cadres from the political party that supports them can be involved.
Frankly, with this incident, the Labor Party did benefit. There are also public aspirations that said that in the past during the election they voted for party "A", now they support the Labor Party. Such aspirations, although they have not been proven, exist and have emerged recently. In the future, the public and intellectuals will see what the party does, not what the party says.
So is there hope that has emerged after this Constitutional Court decision?
This Constitutional Court decision has indeed revived hopes that have been almost buried. The current regional election is one of the candidates for Deputy Regent of Bekasi from the Labor Party cadre. The candidate for Regent is from the PDIP cadre. This is a collaboration between the Labor Party and PDIP that I am sure will win the hearts of the Bekasi people. Like Lech Wałęsa, the leader of the Polish Solidarność (Labor Party) who became President of Poland. During his leadership, Poland's economic growth increased. Also Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Leader of the Brazilian Labor Party) who was recently elected as the 39th President of Brazil. I imagine the Labor Party in Indonesia is the same, a leader will emerge from a small town and then become a national figure. The Constitutional Court has accommodated the small ones through its decision. This is a new hope for us that has been given by the Constitutional Court through its decision.
So the Constitutional Court's decision is really powerful, huh?
Airin's classmates want to stop by the small Labor Party's winning office, Anies Baswedan too. If there was no Constitutional Court decision, I don't know if they would stop by the Labor Party office. How can Airin place workers as one of her elements of strength in politics. Anies and Dedi Mulyadi want to come to the Labor Party. In the near future, Khofifah will also stop by the Labor Party. So the opportunity is the same and we must not remain silent when there is injustice.
Said Iqbal, Inspiration from Silat Stories
Labor Party President Said Iqbal reads a martial arts book to relax from the routine of managing the party and organization. (Photo; Bambang Eros, DI: Raga Granada VOI)
There are many ways to relax from the routine of political parties and organizations. The President of the Labor Party, Ir. H. Said Iqbal, ME, did it by reading books.
"I got inspiration from reading the silat book Kho Ping Hoo, not from heavy books like Madilog (Tan Malaka), Under the Flag of Revolution (Soekarno), or Das Kapital (Karl Marx). Kho Ping Hoo is a story set in silat, but there is a message that we can apply in life. For example, how a person should have good morals," he said.
In addition, as a Muslim, this man born in Jakarta, July 5, 1968 also reads the holy book of the Qur'an. "In addition to reading the Arabic script, I also read the translation. So, what I read in the Arabic script I try to understand the meaning through the translation into Indonesian," he said.
This reading habit is in accordance with the command called by the Creator to read both literally and to read the signs of life around us. "The first verse that was revealed was that we were ordered to read. There are so many things we can read. We can read books, holy books, comics, and so on. But the phenomena that occur around us can also be read and used as lessons,” he said.
However, as he gets older, Said admitted, his eyesight is now starting to decline. “Now I have to wear glasses to be able to read. Understandably, the U factor, hehehe,” he joked.
Injured a lot
When he was still relatively young, Said Iqbal loved playing soccer. Despite frequent injuries, he continued to play. Now he can no longer play soccer. (Photo; Bambang Eros, DI: Raga Granada VOI)
In addition to reading, Iqbal also liked soccer when he was still relatively young. "My position when playing soccer was as a defender. The task was to help the goalkeeper defend the goal so that no goals were scored," he said.
However, every time he played soccer, he often got injured. "I can't count how many times I went to the bone-fracture massage therapist not far from my house in the Condet area, Jakarta. But even though I was often injured, it didn't make me give up on soccer," he said.
"Anyway, after playing soccer I always went to H. Latief's house," said Iqbal, mentioning the name of his regular massage therapist who had a practice in the Condet area, East Jakarta.
Apparently, Said Iqbal could also learn a lot from the game of soccer. "Soccer must have a strategy when facing an opponent. We must run fast when there is an opportunity, defend when attacked, and attack again after successfully repelling the opponent's attack," he said.
Although not directly, the strategy applied in soccer he often applied when managing the labor union and now the Labor Party which he leads. "There is a philosophy that we can take from the game of football," said this Pele fan.
However, football is now just a memory for Said. "Now I am no longer able to play football because my physical condition no longer allows it. My current sport is swimming. That is the most suitable for my current condition and age. The important thing is to keep moving so that my physical condition can be maintained," he explained.
Beneficial for Many People
Said Iqbal criticized the authorities who acted repressively towards students and activists who were demonstrating. "They are not criminals, they are only expressing their aspirations," he said. (Photo; Bambang Eros, DI: Raga Granada VOI)
Said Iqbal does not like to expose his personal life. “When it comes to personal life, I never want to provide clarification. You can criticize me whatever you want, but you will feel what I do,” he said.
Currently, Said continued, he is fighting to maintain the constitution with students, activists, Labor Party administrators, and sympathizers. “The people enjoy what we are fighting for. Do I ask for thanks for what we have done? No. Every month the employees’ salaries increase, we also do not ask for thanks,” he said.
When there was a threat of thousands of employees being laid off, Iqbal also approached the relevant parties. “How many thousands of people were saved because their jobs were not lost? I also do not ask for thanks,” he said.
In life, Said Iqbal continued, we must be useful not only for ourselves but also for others. “What we do must be useful for people without having to wait for people to thank us,” he said.
The demonstration carried out by students, activists, campus academics, and workers, for Said Iqbal, was in the context of doing good for many people. "They shouted, knocked down the fence to make the council members who were in there aware to see and care about the fate of the people. Don't just think about your own fate. Therefore, I strongly disagree with the younger siblings who demonstrated being dealt with repressively. They are not criminals, they are expressing their aspirations. Young people in their time will make changes," he said.
"It is not permissible in a democratic system that people cannot vote or because of certain powers people cannot be elected. The big parties that control Senayan (DPR RI) are so powerful. They determine the parliamentary threshold, the presidential threshold, the rules for establishing a party are difficult, etc. All about the procedures that make democracy unhealthy,"
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
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