Admits He Rejected But Finally Became A Member Of The MKMK, Jimly: I As A Founder Was Not Strong

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Honorary Council of the Constitutional Court (MKMK) Jimly Asshiddiqie revealed that initially he refused to become a member of the Constitutional Court to handle reports of alleged ethical violations of the Constitutional Court (MK) judges.

Because, at this time Jimly holds the position of Member of the DPD and Member of the MPR. Jimly is worried that he is considered to have a conflict of interest in handling this case.

He conveyed this when holding the inaugural meeting with the agenda of clarifying the reporter in the report on alleged violations of the code of ethics of the Constitutional Court judges regarding the decision on the age limit of the presidential and vice presidential candidates.

"People are also questioning me, this. I am a member of the DPD, a member of the MPR. So, I was not initially willing (to become a member of the MKMK)," said Jimly at the MK building, Central Jakarta, Thursday, October 26.

However, Jimly assured himself that he would not be involved in a conflict of interest in handling this case. Because, in the 2024 election, Jimly no longer nominated as a member of the legislature.

"This means that there is no conflict of interest because I am no longer running for office, so that later there will be no problem with dispute over the election results," explained Jimly.

Moreover, Jimly also finally felt the need for kut to help improve the image of the Constitutional Court. Given, he is the first Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court to serve in the 2003-2008 period since the Constitutional Court was founded.

"Moreover, I have a historical burden, the Constitutional Court has never slumped its image like now. I as the founder did not have the heart. So, I am willing for this," he said.

It is known that the MKMK received a number of reports of alleged ethical violations by all constitutional judges regarding the Constitutional Court's decision Number 90/PUU/-XXI/2023 regarding the judicial review of the minimum age limit for presidential and vice presidential candidates.

In this case, the Constitutional Court granted a lawsuit asking regional heads who are not yet 40 years old to advance as presidential and vice-presidential candidates.

In the opinion of the Constitutional Court judge, the ones who approved all case clauses were Anwar Usman who is also the uncle of Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Guntur Hamzah, and Manahan M. P. Sitompul.

Meanwhile, Judge Daniel Yusmic Pancastaki Foekh and Enny Nurbaningsih are of the view that they agree that only governors can run for presidential and vice presidential candidates even though they are not 40 years old.

Then, Saldi Isra and Wahiduddin Adams refused to grant this case. Meanwhile, Suhartoyo and Arief Hidayat stated that the lawsuit should not have been accepted.

Following up on the report, the Constitutional Court formed MKMK consisting of Wahiduddin Adams from elements of constitutional judges, former chairman of the Constitutional Court Jimly Asshiddiqie from elements of community leaders, and Bintan R. Saragih from academic elements. MKMK will work for a month starting from October 24, 2023 to November 24, 2023.