Democrats Sue DKJ Law, Consider No More Relevant Walkot Appointed Governor

The chairman of the Central Jakarta Democratic Party DPC, Taufiqurrahman (center), showed a receipt of the DKJ Law lawsuit at the Constitutional Court, Jakarta, Thursday (6/6/2024). (ANTARA)

Chairman of the Central Jakarta Democratic Party (Jakpus) Branch Leadership Council (DPC), Taufiqurrarahman, submitted a request for a judicial review of the Jakarta Special Region Law (UU DKJ) to the Constitutional Court (MK). "Today, I, Taufiqurrahman accompanied by my attorney, were present to the Constitutional Court to submit a judicial review (material review) on Law Number 2 of 2024 concerning Special Regions in Jakarta," said Taufiqurrahman at the Constitutional Court Building, Jakarta, Thursday 6 June, which was confiscated by Antara. The articles in the DKJ Law that he tested were Article 1 paragraph (9), Article 6 Paragraph (1), and Article 13 Paragraph (1), Paragraph (2), Paragraph (3), and Paragraph (4) relating to the technical appointment of the Mayor/Regent in the Special Region of Jakarta to Article 1 Paragraph (2), Article 18 Paragraph (4), and Article 28D Paragraph (1) and Paragraph (3) of the 1945 Constitution. As for Article 13 Paragraph (3) of the DKJ Law, it is stated that the Mayor/Regent who are under and responsible to the Governor is appointed and dismissed by the Governor. He felt that his constitutional rights as a citizen were harmed because with his current position as Chairman of the Central Jakarta Democratic DPC, he could run as a candidate for mayor in Central Jakarta.

According to him, the position of Mayor in the Special Region of Jakarta Province appointed by the Governor is no longer relevant. He considered that the position should be democratically elected like other regions in Indonesia. "We want that in Jakarta this is the same as in other areas, the Mayor and Regent can be directly elected by the people because we both know that Jakarta is no longer a Special Capital Region since the issuance of the Law on IKN and Law Number 29 of 2007 concerning the specificities of DKI Jakarta has been revoked and the DKJ Law has been issued," he said. He also hopes that the request for judicial review submitted by the Constitutional Court can be granted and can apply in the 2029 General Election. "So that a more equitable democratic atmosphere is created and increases the effectiveness of community services by local governments in the Province of the Special Region of Jakarta," he said.