Government Not to Issue Regulation on Corruption Court
Friday, 22 December, 2006 | 12:38 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Justice and Human Rights Minister Hamid Awaludin affirmed that the government will not issue legal government regulation (perpu) on setting up of corruption court. “We do not plan to issue the perpu. It is certain,” he said after a ministerial meeting at the presidential office yesterday (12/21) in Jakarta.

According to him, the government did not see any urgency of issuing the perpu on account of the transition period of only three years. “That was the reason as to why we have to issue the corruption law soon. If it is not issued within three years, the court may be dismissed,” he said. Surely, said Hamid, the government will prioritize laws which relate to the verdict of the Constitutional Court.

State Secretary Yusril Ihza Mahendra said that the government, including the President, is yet to react to the verdict. “The President has asked me to examine the matter. I read the verdict yesterday (12/21),” he said.

Yusril explained that the Corruption Eradication Commission Law was issued as a temporary measure to handle the difficult enforcement of corruption eradication by using extraordinary ways. So far, he said, the government and Constitutional Court have been concentrating on the legality of it.

Yusril refuted that if the government regulation is changed the law is a way out, although it can still be not the object of the Constitutional Court. According to him, the change in the law was only a legal form. “The important thing is what will be regulated by the perpu,” he said.

Presidential spokesperson Andi Mallarangeng said that the President is still studying the verdict of the Constitutional Court. However, Andi said, the President has asked that one should not issue a law arbitrarily.

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