Government’s Wise Steps

SEKRETARIAT WAPRES

Vice President Ma\'ruf Amin met representatives of leaders of Islamic Organizations at the official residence of the Vice President, Tuesday (06/16/2020) night. In this meeting, the Vice President conveyed the government\'s attitude to ask the DPR to postpone the deliberation of the Pancasila Ideology Guidelines Bill (HIP Bill).

The government has asked the House of Representatives (DPR ) to postpone the deliberation of the bill on Pancasila Ideology Guidelines (HIP). The government’s move is wise and appropriate.

The bill, initiated by a number of House members, has sparked controversy. Some groups in the House have rejected the deliberation of the bill concerning the ideology of the state. A number of retired military (TNI) personnel, Islamic organizations, such as Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah, and the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), rejected the deliberation of the HIP Bill.

They rejected the deliberation of the bill due to a number of reasons. For example, the exclusion of Temporary People’s Consultative Assembly Decree (TAP MPRS) No. 25/1966 concerning the disbandment of the now-defunct Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) and the prohibition of spreading Communism, Marxism and Leninism.

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Criticism arises against Article 7 in the draft of the HIP Bill which tries to arouse the historical memory of the birth of Pancasila. In that article it is mentioned that the main characteristics of Pancasila are Trisila, namely socio-nationalism, socio-democracy, and cultural divinity. In the next article, it is called that the Trisila is crystallized in Ekasila or mutual cooperation.

The formula opens up broad interpretation. Speculation is developing. Giving a space for interpretation is actually legitimate in a democratic country. However, the essential question that should be asked is how important is the HIP bill for this nation?

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KOMPAS/DOKUMENTASI HUMAS KEMENKOPOLHUKAM

The Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menkopolhukam) Mahfud MD (right) accompanied by Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yasonna H Laoly gave information related to the government\'s attitude towards the Pancasila Ideology Guidelines  Bill on Tuesday (6/16/2020).

Is it legally wise to place Pancasila in the law? Isn\'t Pancasila the source of all sources of state law? In the midst of the government\'s effort to cope with the Covid-19 pandemic, is the initiative taken by some House members to deliberate the HIP bill wise?

Pancasila is the basis of the state agreed upon by the nation\'s founders. That is final. There is no need to open a new interpretation that will only open up the history books. What is actually important is how to realize the five principles in the Pancasila in real life . How to make the principle of social justice in Pancasila a guideline this nation. The same is true with the principles of divinity, humanity, unity and consensus-building.

It is understood if there is a threat to transnational ideology. However, whether the ideological threat must and can be overcome with the issuance of the HIP Law should be considered. If the intention is to provide a legal framework for the Pancasila Ideology Development Board (BPIP), we don’t think the issuance of a law is needed.

Do not disturb national solidity with political efforts that can disrupt solidity and national unity

We welcome the government\'s move to ask the DPR to postpone the deliberation of the HIP Bill. The step must be followed up by the issuance of an official letter from President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo as the government\'s official stance to postpone or instead to oppose the deliberation of the HIP Bill.

A draft law will not become a law if it does not get approval from the government. We appreciate the government\'s initiative. There is still a lot of important work to be done to cope with the Covid-19 outbreak and overcome the economic slowdown.

Do not disturb national solidity with political efforts that can disrupt solidity and national unity.