Prof. Yusril: Jokowi Must Revise The Presidential Decree On Alcohol Investments Through New Regulations

Yusril Ihza Mahendra (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Constitutional Law Expert Prof. Yusril Ihza Mahendra said that the withdrawal of the provisions on alcohol investment in Presidential Regulation Number 10 of 2021 concerning the Investment Business Sector must be followed by the issuance of a new regulation. The new regulation revises the Presidential Decree regarding the withdrawal of the alcohol investment attachment.

"The president must issue a new presidential regulation containing amendments to the regulation, in particular removing the attachment provisions related to liquor," said Yusril Ihza, quoted by Antara, Tuesday, March 2.

Yusril said that with the issuance of a new regulation that revised the Presidential Regulation on the Investment Business Sector, the problem of regulating alcoholic drinks was officially removed from positive legal norms in Indonesia.

Meanwhile, according to Yusril, other provisions that provide convenience for investment do not contain serious problems, so they do not need to be revised immediately.

Regarding the rejection of the section on alcohol investment in the Presidential Regulation on the Investment Business Sector, Yusril considered this to be normal in Indonesia, where the majority of the population is Muslim.

"In a secular country like the Philippines alone, when President Gloria Arroyo Macapagal served as President, she vetoed the passage of the draft law on contraception that was approved by the senate, because she considered the Philippine Catholic Church against family planning because it was considered inconsistent with religious doctrine," continued Yusrril.

If in a country that claims to be secular, it turns out that religious considerations remain important, Yusril said that a country based on Pancasila should do more.

According to Yusril, religious beliefs must be considered when formulating any policy. This step will not automatically make Indonesia an Islamic state, but will still be a country based on Pancasila.

"I think even in a country based on Islam, arrangements for the interests of adherents of religions other than Islam still exist. The rights of citizens other than Muslims must be protected and guaranteed by a state based on Islam," said Yusril.