Constitution Amendment Deemed by Experts as Political Maneuver

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Constitutional law expert Bivitri Susanti argued that the plan to amend the 1945 Constitution (UUD 1945) is not backed by a solid reason and slammed it as a mere political elite maneuver, and not based on public demand. 

“The public never talked about the amendment but suddenly this issue emerged that is driven by political elites,” said Bivitri on Monday.

Other than that, Bivitri also sees the plan to relive the State Police Guidelines or GBHN as irrelevant as Indonesia’s reformation mandates a president’s election can only be through public voting. 

Moreover, the Director of Andalas University’s Constitution Study Center (Pusako), Feri Amsari said there is no urgency to amend the Constitution. He argued that democracy is at stake if such a plan continues to be realized. 

Feri made it clear that talks about the country’s constitutional change is saturated by an agenda to give the right to appoint a president back to the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR).

“MPR`s decision to amend the constitution is not based on the aspirations of Indonesians but rather a process of political negotiation,” said Feri who suspects political elites are backing this notion due to fears of the inability to attract public support in future elections. 

ESTER ARLIN