MK Must Weigh Substantive Justice: Observer

Jakarta (Antara) - The Constitutional Court (MK), besides adhering to formal legality, must also weigh justice supported by facts while issuing a verdict on the Pilkada (regional election law) case later, stated an observer. "We hope the MK will look into the case carefully to see possible subjective political interest behind the passage of the Pilkada law," senior researcher from the Indonesia Public Institute Karyono Wibowo emphasized here on Tuesday. The House of Representatives (DPR) passed the Pilkada bill into law during the wee hours on Friday that will change the current system of direct election of provincial governors, district heads, and city mayors to the old system of indirect election by the legislative assembly (DPRD) members. However, the bill was passed only after members of the ruling Democrat Party decided to abstain from voting and indulged in strong debates. As a result of this decision, the party and its general chairman, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, have drawn public criticism from various quarters. Some quarters have planned to file a lawsuit against the law. Karyono pointed out that the passage of the bill into law must be devoid of subjective interests to win power. He expressed hope that the MK would consider the facts before giving a ruling on the case. "People are waiting for the MK to demonstrate its wisdom in evaluating the advantage and disadvantage of the law," he affirmed. (*)