Megawati Criticizes Indirect Election Discourse: Indonesia Does Not Belong to Anyone

The 5th President of the Republic of Indonesia who is also the Chairman of the General Election of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) Megawati Soekarnoputri. (ANTARA/HO-PDIP)

JAKARTA - The 5th President of the Republic of Indonesia and also the General Chairperson of the PDI Perjuangan (PDIP) DPP, Megawati Soekarnoputri, highlighted the discourse on indirect elections that has emerged recently. The daughter of the Proclaimer of the Republic of Indonesia, Soekarno, emphasized that Indonesia does not belong to one person but the entire people of the country.

Megawati emphasized this when giving a scientific oration at the inauguration of the Emeritus Professor of Constitutional Law for Prof. Dr. Arief Hidayat at Borobudur University, Jakarta, Saturday, May 2.

In his remarks, Megawati emphasized a strong message regarding state ownership. He reminded that Indonesia is a republic, which in principle means public affairs and belongs to the people, not to certain individuals or groups.

"After a while, I can't stand it either. Because this (Indonesia) does not belong to one person. The Republic of Indonesia belongs to all of us. How is it?" Megawati said in front of university professors and legal figures who were present.

Megawati also highlighted efforts to tinker with the General Election (Pemilu) system. Scara tegas, he defended the Presidential Election system directly as a reform mandate that gives strong legitimacy to a leader.

He also criticized parties that used the excuse of 'high costs' as a gateway to change the democratic system.

"Just because he said that now the cost is a lot (expensive). Loh, why in 1955 could it? The situation is calm, the people are calm. If now it is said that the cost is big, it is strange for me," he said.

According to him, the President directly elected by the people should not open room for compromise for violations of the Constitution, especially if it lowers the political and economic sovereignty of the nation.

Another thing that has also been in the spotlight is Megawati's concern about the phenomenon of 'uniformity' in state institutions, including the legislature (DPR) and the judiciary. He criticized the culture of the father's pleasure or the 'ready commander' mentality that began to penetrate the civil and legal spheres.

Megawati recounted her experience when dealing with the authorities in the past, where instructions often came in the name of superior orders without considering legal truth. He is worried that if all state institutions are uniform in their voices and only follow one command, then justice will be lost.

"Do you think I don't know? I know that people always avoid it like that (as ordered by the commander). That's why if I'm with my bodyguard, 'Be careful if you say this is the order of the Commander. No! Be ready because you know whether you know or not," said Megawati.

He also warned that laws and state institutions such as the DPR should not be 'dry' and only become a tool of power that is away from the people.

On that occasion, Megawati also praised the courage of Prof. Arief Hidayat who had issued a Dissenting Opinion (different opinion) at the Constitutional Court as a form of intellectual integrity that did not want to be homogenized.

"Don't let the law lose its impartiality. I want to convey to academics and students, shake the voice of your conscience to guard truth and justice," he concluded.