TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo said that the Constitutional Court’s (MK) ruling that revoked the authority of the minister to overturn regional government regulations (Perda) has hampered investment.

“I, as the Home Affairs Minister, am puzzled by the MK ruling that revoked the Home Affairs Minister’s authority to overturn regulations that are clearly hampering investment,” Tjahjo said Thursday in Jakarta.

The Constitutional Court issued the ruling following a request for judicial review filed by the Association of Indonesian Regency Governments (Apkasi).

Tjahjo said that the executive branch has an exclusive right to review regional regulations. Regional regulations are also the products of local governments, comprising local heads and Regional House of Representatives (DPRD).

He feared that the MK ruling would hamper deregulation initiatives launched by both central and local governments bearing in mind that there are regional regulations in place that contradict higher laws and overcomplicate bureaucracy for investment permits.

“On the other hand, I, as the Home Affairs Ministry, am not sure whether the MA [Supreme Court] could overturn any Perda in the near future or in a short space of time because decision must be made on each regulation. Based on my experience in 2012, MA had only overturned two Perdas,” he said.

Tjahjo said that the Home Affairs Ministry will hold talks with Apkasi to resolve the issue.

ANTARA