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onstitutional Court (MK) chief justice Mahfud MD said he had warned the court’s secretary-general against lobbying and begging lawmakers for additional budget resources.

According to Mahfud, lawmakers at the House of Representatives significantly slashed the court’s budget over the last two years.

“The MK will not make the budget cut a big issue. I have even told the secretary-general to neither lobby nor beg lawmakers,” he said here on Thursday.

Mahfud said the court did not complain despite the cut in its budget, adding the spirit of carrying out its constitutional mission should not be weakened by budget restrictions.

According to him, the issue linked to the court’s independence.

“The MK should be firm in not allowing itself to be politically steered or blocked over budget issues,” he said as quoted by Antara news agency.

He said he fully agreed with Cabinet Secretary Dipo Alam, who warned in his circular not to conspire with the lawmakers on the budget.