Letter To Menkumham, Mahfud MD Asks Revision Of The ITE Law To Be Prioritized

Minister of Police Mahfud MD (Angga Nugraha/VOI)

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD has written to the Minister of Law and Human Rights (Menkum HAM) Yasonna Laoly.

The letter contained a request that a limited revision of the Electronic Information and Transaction Law (UU ITE) be included in the 2021 Priority Prolegnas at the Legislation Body (Baleg) of the DPR RI.

"It is hoped that in the discussion, changes from the 2021 Prolegnas Priority can be discussed, whether this can be a 2021 priority or not," said Head of the ITE Law Study Implementation Team Sugeng Purnomo at an online press conference, Thursday, June 24.

The letter, he continued, would certainly be responded to by the Minister of Law and Human Rights because previously there had been discussions regarding this matter.

"When the team reported the results of this study, both in the form of implementation guidelines and a revised draft, the Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law and Security together with the Minister of Communication and Information, together with the Minister of Law and Human Rights, the President received them," he said.

"So Mr. Menkumham already understands this, so it's just a matter of when there will be a discussion about changes or revisions to the 2021 priority Prolegnas," added Sugeng.

Previously, the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD stated that President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) had agreed and provided directions for the limited revision of the ITE Law.

Mahfud said the government would not revoke this law because repealing it would be tantamount to suicide.

Most recently, Mahfud said the status of this limited revision had been completed and would enter the legislative stage at the DPR RI after the synchronization was carried out by the Ministry of Law and Human Rights (Kemenkumham).

The former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court (MK) said that although the draft revision of the ITE Law would enter the legislative process, the public could still provide input. However, the process was submitted to the legislature because the study team had finished carrying out their duties.