Chief Justice Anwar Usman delivering keynote speech and opening the socialization of MPR’s four pillars and constitutional awareness program for members of the Nahdatul Ulama (NU), Aisyiah, and the Islamic Women’s Union (WSI) alongside Secretary-General M. Guntur Hamzah, Tuesday (17/11/2020) from the Constitutional Court. Photo by Humas MK/Gani.

JAKARTA, Public Relations of the Constitutional Court—Chief Justice Anwar Usman opened and delivered a keynote speech at the socialization of the four pillars of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) and a constitutional awareness program for members of the Nahdatul Ulama (NU), Aisyiah, and the Islamic Women’s Union (WSI) on Tuesday evening, November 17, 2020 from Jakarta. The virtual event was organized by the Constitutional Court's Pancasila and Constitution Education Center (Cisarua, Bogor) and the MPR.

At the event, Justice Anwar said that all of citizens’ daily activities are subject to statutory laws and regulations. A citizen is subject to the law right from a moment of their birth to their death. When one is born or dies, their birth and death must be recorded in a birth or death certificate pursuant to Law No. 24 of 2013 on Civil Administration. One’s activity in an organization is also regulated in Law No. 16 of 2016 on Civil Society Organizations. Without the law, there would be no order, as everyone would pursue their own interests, leading to chaos and vigilantism.

He said the amendment to the 1945 Constitution post-Reform contains the protection of human rights. This, as well as the inclusion of human rights in laws and regulations, shows the state’s commitment in protecting the citizens’ constitutional rights. The establishment of the Constitutional Court, pushed by the amendment of the 1945 Constitution, also serves to guard the fulfillment of constitutional rights. The Court ensures that the citizens’ constitutional rights be implemented through the law. The enforcement of the constitution is a consequence of the constitutionalism that the Constitution drafters upheld. Its values and norms will always live and develop, thus, the Constitution must be understood not only textually, but as a living, developing document that bears witness to the development of society.

“Although the Constitution has normatively provided guarantee and protection of citizens’ constitutional rights, the fact that its explanation is spread across various laws and regulations demands that we carefully follow its development. Do not let the rights that are guaranteed in the Constitution be neglected. Therefore, we all need attention and cooperation to maintain and protect constitutional values,” he said.

The chief justice said that the Constitutional Court’s authorities serve to balance political interests in the democracy from violations against the citizens’ constitutional rights. all citizens have the right to file a judicial review petition to the Court when they feel that their constitutional rights have been violated due to the enactment of a law. Therefore, it is highly important that citizens understand their constitutional rights and the steps to take when such rights are violated. The Court has the duty to disseminate constitutional values and Pancasila values. It always urges government agencies to understand and implement those values consistently.

4 Pillars of the MPR

At the event, Secretary-General M. Guntur Hamzah reported that the MPR devised 4 Pillars of Pancasila values. The MPR collaborated with the Constitutional Court's Pancasila and Constitution Education Center to organize a constitutional awareness program to instill the understanding of Pancasila, the citizens’ constitutional rights, and the MPR’s Four Pillars. The Islamic women organizations were targeted in this program as they were deemed to have an important and strategic role on this issue. He added that the program was intended to improve their awareness and understanding of the 1945 Constitution, the concept of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (unity in diversity), and the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI). The program would run for four days (November 17-19, 2020).

Meanwhile, MPR Deputy Speaker Arsul Sani expressed his appreciation for this program. The materials presented by the speakers who are experts in constitutionalism would benefit the community and must be implemented. He believed the program would help the participants develop their awareness and understanding of national values.

Writer: Utami Argawati
Editor: Lulu Anjarsari
Translator: Yuniar Widiastuti (NL)

Translation uploaded on 11/20/2020 16:30 WIB

Disclaimer: The original version of the news is in Indonesian. In case of any differences between the English and the Indonesian version, the Indonesian version will prevail.