Haris Azhar And Fatia Become Suspects Due To Luhut's Report, Refly Harun: If I Were The President, The Minister Was Criticized For Being Prohibited From Retaliating Against Criminals

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan. (Antaranews)

JAKARTA - Constitutional law observer Refly Harun regrets the appointment of human rights activists Haris Azhar and Fatia Maulidianti as suspects in the alleged defamation case reported by the Coordinating Minister for Investment and Maritime Affairs, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan.

According to him, public officials at the coordinating ministerial level should understand the risks faced because they often intersect with key public policies.

"For example, if a public official at the coordinating ministerial level reports to police law enforcement, the case will be followed up, left alone, or will be made a priority. So, is this the real problem?" he said on the YouTube account Refly Harun, quoted on Sunday, March 20.

"It is true that everyone has human rights, but don't forget that when a person is in a government position, there are actually ethical boundaries in governance that he must uphold. And that is the risk of being a public official," he continued.

He reminded, the people are placed in an important position in a democratic country. The people also give privileges or privileges to public officials so that they can carry out their mandate while leading the country.

In certain cases, he continued, public officials also get more access than the people, including businesses and so on. Therefore, it is hoped that public officials will not be sensitive when receiving criticism from the people.

"Therefore, the balance is to be ready for criticism in the community, but what if the criticism is not true, not every criticism must be true, because if the criticism must be true, then the official concerned loses legitimacy of course," he explained.

However, he said, the main goal of those who gave criticism was to uphold good intentions for the sake of mutual progress. With the intention of maintaining public morality, he said, not personal attacks.

Refly then hopes that if he becomes head of state he will order his subordinates to not be anti-criticism. Moreover, criminalize parties who criticize the policies carried out by the state.

"If I were the president, my minister should have been criticized, yes, it should only be used as an evaluation. You can't retaliate and punish. If the criticism isn't true, then you just need to submit a counter-data. Not a summons, threatening to punish, that's if I become the president," he said. .