Don't fuss about Bagir's retirement: Govt

Desy Nurhayati , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Fri, 10/10/2008 10:48 AM | National

State Secretary Hatta Rajasa said Thursday there was no problem with the retirement of Supreme Court chief justice Bagir Manan, and asked the public not to connect Bagir with the controversial bill on the Supreme Court.

"Let's not make a fuss about the retirement of Pak Bagir," Hatta told reporters at the presidential office.

The government has proposed a bill to extend the retirement age of Supreme Court justices from 65 years to 70. The bill has triggered intense debate at the House of Representatives amid accusations the age extension is designed to keep Bagir in office.

Hatta said that since the deliberation of the Supreme Court bill -- which revises the current law -- was still underway, the existing law remained in effect.

"Since the bill is unlikely to be completed by the end of this month, Pak Bagir will definitely retire. So there's nothing to worry about," he said.

The House delayed endorsing the bill on Monday following a protest, spearheaded by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle.

Bagir, who turned 67 on Monday, has reportedly sent his resignation letter to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, but Hatta said the presidential office had yet to receive the notification.

"We are still waiting for the letter. Maybe we will receive it in the coming days," Hatta said.

He said the President, as the head of state, would approve the resignation by the end of this month.

The Supreme Court said Bagir, despite having reached his mandatory retirement age, would remain on the bench until November in order to complete any unfinished business.

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