Megawati Regarding The Constitutional Court's Decision Is Disallowed: Actually The DPR Is Opo Toh Yo?

PDIP Chairman Megawati Soekarnoputri at the PDIP DPP Office, Central Jakarta, Thursday, August 22. (Diah-VOI)

Chairman of the PDI-P (PDIP) Megawati Soekarnoputri admitted that she was surprised by the attitude of the DPR RI which annulled the decision of the Constitutional Court (MK) in revising the Pilkada Law. Eight out of nine political party factions approved the amendment to the bill discussed on Wednesday, August 21 yesterday. These include the Gerindra, Democrat, Golkar, PKS, NasDem, PAN, PKB, and PPP factions. Only PDIP did not agree with the revision of the Pilkada Law. "The (rules) are twisted it's not clear. I scratched my head, you know. This is also a matter in the DPR. I thought, is this actually the DPR opo yo? I'm a member of the DPR 3 times, you know. Don't forget too, you know the rules, eh, O Allah," Megawati said in her speech at the PDIP DPP Office, Central Jakarta, Thursday, August 22. The 5th President of the Republic of Indonesia also asked the constitutional law expert who is also the former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court, Mahfud MD. Mahfud was also present at the event of handing over support to the prospective regional head candidates held by PDIP today. The daughter of the proclaimer questioned whether political parties in parliament currently still have independence or only follow the will of the authorities. "I asked Mr. Mahfud earlier. 'Sir, has the law of political parties changed? Is there independence or not?'" asked Megawati. On that occasion, Megawati emphasized that if the DPR reneged on the decision of the Constitutional Court (MK), then they would commit disobedience to the constitution. The 5th President of the Republic of Indonesia emphasized that the constitution was born from the struggle of the founding fathers of the nation who freed Indonesia. Thus, the constitution is an extraction or outcome of indisputable thoughts. "Although currently there are various efforts to eliminate the decision of the Constitutional Court, as the general chairman of the PDI-P, I emphasize that I must fully obey the decision of the constitutional Court," Megawati said accompanied by applause from the cadres.

Previously, the Legislation Body (Baleg) of the DPR RI agreed to bring the draft Revision of Law (RUU) Number 10 of 2016 concerning Regional Head Elections (Pilkada) to the Plenary Meeting. The change in the Pilkada Bill annulled the decision of the Constitutional Court (MK) which changed the threshold for nomination requirements in the Pilkada. And the age limit for regional head candidates must be 30 years. The agreement to bring the draft bill on the Pilkada to the Plenary Meeting was taken in a mini-fractional view meeting which was held after the Pilkada Bill Working Meeting on Wednesday, August 21. The plan is for a plenary meeting to be held on Thursday, August 22 morning. However, the meeting was canceled because the presence of DPR members did not reach the quorum and would be rescheduled. Meanwhile, many people from various circles held demonstrations in front of the DPR RI building, ranging from students, laborers, comics, to celebrities. They opposed the DPR's decision to revise the Pilkada Law because it was considered against the constitution.