Denying The Intervention Of The Constitutional Court's Decision, Anwar Usman Pamer's 39-Year Track Record As A Judge

Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court Anwar Usman at the Constitutional Court Building Jakarta. (Between-Hafidz M)

JAKARTA - Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court (MK) Anwar Usman denied that the issue had widened Gibran Rakabuming Raka as a vice presidential candidate (cawapres) through the Constitutional Court's decision.

Anwar denied regulating the Constitutional Court's decision regarding the age limit for presidential and vice-presidential candidates. He reasoned that during his 39 years as a judge, he remained trustworthy in upholding the constitution.

"Now it's been 39 years, right? Alhamdulillah, I stand firm. My oath is still firm. The mandate is in the constitution of the constitution, the mandate in my religion is in the Koran," said Anwar while chairing the trial for the maximum presidential candidate age lawsuit. 70 years in the Court courtroom, Central Jakarta, Monday 23 October.

Anwar then quoted the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad as saying there would be no intervention if his daughter Fatimah committed the theft.

"'If Fatimah my son stole me alone, I would cut his tag', meaning that the law must stand straight, whether it is permissible to intervene without being allowed by anyone and from anywhere," he said.

Anwar, who is also Gibran's uncle, said that since becoming the leader of the court, he decided the case based on evidence and the judge's belief. He also again denied the existence of a conflict of interest in the trial for the presidential-ccawapes age decision at the Constitutional Court.

"This decision is not only responsible to the nation and state of society but the most important thing is responsibility to Allah Subhanahu ta'ala. God Almighty in a case," he claimed.

In a trial chaired by Anwar Usman today, the Constitutional Court decided to reject the lawsuit for the maximum age of the presidential candidate of 70 years.

The case Number 102/PUU-XXI/2023 was submitted by three people represented by the '98 Democracy and Human Rights Guard Lawyers Alliance Forum.

In the decision on the judicial review of Law Number 7 of 2017 concerning General Elections (Pemilu) as well, there is a different opinion or dissenting opinion from a constitutional judge, namely Judge Suhartoyo.

The Constitutional Court (MK) rejected the lawsuit for judicial review of Law Number 7 of 2017 concerning General Elections (Pemilu) regarding the age limit for presidential candidates (candidates) and vice presidential candidates (cawapres) for a maximum of 70 years.

"Rejected the petitioners' requests for other than and the rest," said Anwar Usman in the Central Jakarta Constitutional Court room.