Mahfud MD Will Meet With DPR To Discuss Postponement Of HIP Bill

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD (Photo: Humas Kemenkopolhukam)

JAKARTA - The Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD will visit the Indonesian Parliament, Thursday, July 16 to submit an official letter from the government regarding the postponement of the deliberation of the Pancasila Ideology Policy Bill (HIP).

"The government tomorrow will deliver it officially, physically in the form of a ministerial letter that will convey it to represent the President of the Republic of Indonesia," Mahfud said at his office, Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat, Central Jakarta, Wednesday, July 15.

The former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court (MK) emphasized that the submission of the letter was a step of affirmation and a formal step from the previous position taken by the government, namely asking to postpone the deliberation of the DPR RI initiative bill.

"Later, please the DPR, after that they want to be taken to the legislative process, whether to the National Legislation Program or what. But the government will state it like that (ask for a delay, ed)," he said.

He explained that the request for postponement was because the current government wanted to focus on handling COVID-19. In addition, there are 2 materials contained in the bill that are still in polemic, so it is necessary to absorb more aspirations from the public.

The polemic in question is related to TAP MPRS XXV 1966 concerning the Disbandment of the PKI and the Prohibition of Spreading Communism, Marxism and Leninism as well as the Trisila and Ekasila issues.

"We agree with the community. So, when will the DPR want to do it in the legislative process. So brothers, this is a matter of constitution. So that we are the government, even though we have an attitude, we cannot say, we cannot withdraw it," he said.