Peradi Affirms There Is No Urgency To Revise Advocates Law, Otto Hasibuan: Don't Look For Scapegoats

PHOTO VIA ANTARA

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Indonesian Advocates Association (Peradi), Otto Hasibuan, assessed that there is no urgent need to revise Law (UU) Number 18 of 2003 concerning Advocates.

"Actually, there is no urgency for us to revise the Law on Advocates. Yes, because the law is not problematic," said Otto Hasibuan, quoted by Antara, Friday, June 11.

Otto Hasibuan assessed that the problem was officials who did not carry out the mandate of the Advocate Law properly and consistently, namely regarding the application of a single forum.

"So don't look for scapegoats. There is nothing wrong with the law, why has the law been changed," he said.

In fact, he continued, it should be asked why the Supreme Court (MA) did not implement the Law on Advocates consequently. In Law No. 18/2003 on Advocates, it is clearly stated that it adheres to a 'single container' system.

"Why did the Supreme Court crash it so that it became multibar. So don't blame the law. If we want to change the multibar, we must also implement the 'single bar' because it is a positive law," he said.

This was said by Otto Hasibuan in response to the video he received regarding statements from members of the DPR and government officials who conveyed the revision of the Advocates Law.

However, Otto admitted that he did not know the direction of the revision of the Advocate Law, including whether it would be included in the national legislation program (proglegnas).

"But at the DPR meeting yesterday, Arteria Dahlan suggested that this be taken seriously," he said.

Regarding the revision, Otto emphasized that officials and council members must be careful in responding to multibar wishes. The reason is, it will harm the people or justice seekers.

According to Otto, multibar will open up opportunities for advocates to become criminals. This is because the system makes there is no standardization of quality to advocate ethics. Thus, advocates will be difficult to control.

"If officials understand the meaning and purpose of establishing a 'single bar' advocate organization, surely they will not fight for multi-bar," he said.

Therefore, Peradi asked the government and the DPR to be careful in dealing with the issue of the advocate's forum.