President Jokowi Hopes General Elections Bill Prioritizes National Interests

Cabinet Secretary answers the reporters’ questions after accompanying President Jokowi to receive the Swiss economic delegation, at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, Friday (14/7) morning. (Photo: PR/Dinda)

Although the agreement has not been reached at the Special Committee (Pansus) meeting and it is decided to be brought in a plenary session on Thursday (20/7), Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung said that, as a whole, the time is still sufficient to finalize the General Election Bill.

“The President monitored all the developments. Of course, when it comes to Election Bill, the President was expecting that it prioritizes the interests of the nation in the long run. Not solely for short-term political interests,” Cabinet Secretary Pramono told reporters after accompanying President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to receive the Swiss economic delegation at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, on Friday (14/7) morning.

Cabinet Secretary Pramono reiterated that it is time to build a better constitutional building system for long-term purposes. So, we do not need to amend the law anytime we hold elections.

Cabinet Secretary Pramono notes that what has been happening is still short-term interests. In fact, Cabinet Secretary Pramono continued, we need to think about long-term interests, whether things related to this Election prepared by a particular body or by the Constitutional Court (MK).

For the Interest of the Nation

When asked about Government Regulation in Lieu of Law (Perppu) Number 2 of 2017 on the Amendment to Law Number 17 of 2013 on Mass Organizations, Cabinet Secretary Pramono hoped that it can be enacted soon.

Regarding the question that always arises, is this very urgent? Cabinet Secretary Pramono explained that the Government with full consideration, calculation and prudence delivers the Perppu, given it is already very needed.

First, related to the information disclosure (Perppu Number 1 of 2017), according to Cabinet Secretary Pramono, this is not negotiable, because we have ratified it. Thus, it is inevitable that our tax amnesty program must be supported by information disclosure.

Second, related to mass organizations, Cabinet Secretary continued, what is prepared by the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs which has been approved by the President is solely for the interests of the nation, not for the short-term political interests of the Government. “This is for the interest of the nation in the long run. So if the Government then considers that there must be steps for the sake of the nation in the long run, if then there is criticism, this is part of strengthening the steps that have been conducted,” Cabinet Secretary Pramono said.

Cabinet Secretary Pramono believed that later if the public has read the Perppu, then they will realise that what we want to save in the long run is the ideology of the nation, the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. “Considering  Indonesia, especially in international forums, has now always been a role model. If then in the internal itself, we cannot trust each other, in my opinion, this becomes something we have to deal with together,” Cabinet Secretary Pramono said.

When it comes to the lawsuit against the Perppu, Cabinet Secretary Pramono surmised that it is a constitutional right that anyone can perform. However, Cabinet Secretary Pramono asserted that the Government believes the steps have been taken with great caution, given it involves all stakeholders. “We will also consult with the MK. We believe that,” Cabinet Secretary Pramono concluded. (RMI/DND/ES) (MUR/YM/Naster).