Jokowi: It Never Occurred To The Government To Take Unconstitutional Steps In The Name Of The COVID-19 Pandemic

President Joko Widodo (Photo: Screenshot of Youtube @SecretariatPresident)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said that the COVID-19 pandemic has made the government often take quick responses because it puts public safety as a top priority. However, he ensured that this step was taken with due regard to the corridors of the law and the applicable constitution.

"The crisis situation has forced the government to take a quick and appropriate response, presenting ways that are more flexible and more responsive by placing the safety of the people as the top priority," said Jokowi, quoted from the Indonesian Constitutional Court's YouTube, Thursday, February 10.

"But I want to emphasize that the extraordinary steps taken by the government in handling the pandemic have been carried out with utmost care and with careful considerations," he added.

Jokowi emphasized that the government never wanted to violate the constitution in the slightest. All policies taken in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic are also confirmed to have gone through a number of considerations.

"It never crossed the government's mind that in the name of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government deliberately took steps and methods to make it unconstitutional, violate constitutional democratic procedures and values," said the former governor of DKI Jakarta.

He is well aware that the government does not always agree with the views of the Constitutional Court (MK). But, Jokowi said, his government always respects, accepts and implements the decisions of the institution.

"Because it is regulated by the 1945 Constitution, namely the decision of the Constitutional Court is final and binding. The government believes that the life of our country will be well organized if it is carried out based on the constitution," he said.

"As a state of law, we must jointly enforce the law, uphold justice for the benefit of the people and the progress of the nation," concluded Jokowi.