Postponing The Amendment Of The Constitution, PDIP's Attitude Is Supported By NasDem And PPP

Illustrations/Photo: VOI

JAKARTA - One by one, the factions in the MPR RI have begun to express their stance regarding the amendment to the 1945 Constitution regarding the Principles of State Policy (PPHN). This was after the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) stated that it wanted to postpone the amendment of the Constitution to present the main points of state policy or GBHN.

PDIP is worried that other agendas will be included in the discussion of amendments, such as changing the president's term of office. Agreeing with PDIP, the NasDem Party and the United Development Party (PPP) stated that they were in line with the decision of the white-nosed bull party.

NasDem and PPP consider the postponement of the amendment to the Constitution to protect the constitution from the dark interests of delaying the 2024 election and extending the president's term of office.

Previously, the Deputy Chair of the MPR RI from PDIP Ahmad Basarah emphasized that his institution had never scheduled an amendment to the 1945 Constitution regarding the extension of the president's term of office, including the postponement of elections. "I think that is the commitment of the MPR to date," said Ahmad Basarah in his statement, Monday, March 21.

The PDIP legislator said that from the start his party initiated a limited amendment to the 1945 Constitution only to present the GBHN or the main points of state policy. When there was another agenda to change other articles in the amendment process, Basarah said, his party officially withdrew from the plan to amend the 1945 Constitution during this period.

"This is so that the dignity of our constitution can be maintained, because the constitution is the vision and mission of the great and long-term Indonesian nation. The amendments to the Constitution cannot be designed for the benefit of individuals or groups," he stressed again.

PDIP, he added, had taken a firm stance not to make the momentum of the amendment to the 1945 Constitution an entry point for the interests of individuals or groups, which could damage the constitution.

"PDIP has withdrawn on a limited basis to present the PPHN, which is not carried out during this period," he said.

The NasDem Party immediately stated that it supported the PDI-P's decision to postpone the implementation of the limited amendments to the 1945 Constitution regarding PPHN. PDIP's stance is said to be in line with the NasDem Faction.

"It is appropriate that the PDI-P faction of the MPR RI as one of the proponents of the constitutional amendment to include the PPHN decides to postpone the proposed constitutional amendment," said Chairman of the NasDem Faction of the MPR RI, Taufik Basari, Monday, March 21.

"This is in line with NasDem's stance, which from the beginning suggested that this proposed amendment be reviewed and not forced to be implemented at this time," he continued.

Taufik emphasized that since the beginning of the 2019-2024 MPR RI period, the NasDem faction of the MPR RI has criticized the idea of a constitutional amendment that has been raised again in relation to the desire to include PPHN in the fifth amendment of the 1945 Constitution.

According to him, the implementation of the amendments must contain fundamental reasons and be based on the needs of the people.

"To make changes to the 1945 Constitution, there must be a fundamental reason and based on the needs of the people and the nation," he stressed. Meanwhile, Taufik believes that there is no urgent need for amendments. He reminded that the implementation of the amendments would open up opportunities for discussion on the presidential term of office to be 3 terms or an extension of office through a postponement of the election. office through postponing elections," he said.

"The NasDem faction was also the first to warn that the issue of amendments to the PPHN will open Pandora's box of possible impetus for amendments to the presidential term," added Taufik. In addition, the member of Commission III of the DPR continued, the proposed amendment to the PPHN is still an idea that emerged from the elite and has not yet become a public need. Therefore, he encouraged the implementation of amendments to be carried out carefully. "The proposed amendments related to PPHN according to NasDem are still an elite idea and have not become a public need. Although the 1945 Constitution does not prohibit constitutional amendments, the amendments must be carried out carefully, fully considered, and based on fundamental needs for the sake of the nation," concluded Taufik Basari.

Following NasDem, the Deputy Chair of the MPR from PPP, Arsul Sani agreed that the limited amendment to present the PPHN be postponed until the next period of the MPR RI. Arsul is also worried about other issues that will accompany the amendment to the 1945 Constitution. In particular, the discourse on postponing the 2024 General Election.

"PPP agrees with PDIP that if the amendment to the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia opens up other issues such as postponing elections and others, it would be better during this period that such amendments do not need to be made," said Arsul, Monday, March 21. assessing, other issues outside the PPHN have the potential to cause a commotion that can disrupt social, political and security stability. For example, said Arsul, the issue of postponing the election triggered the pros and cons to polemic in the community.

In fact, added Arsul, during the economic recovery period after the COVID-19 pandemic, it is necessary to guarantee good stability in all fields.

"Instead of risking the stability of the nation, it is better for us to postpone the amendment for the next period," said Arsul.