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Don't rush KUHP deliberation, President says
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University students protest against the revision of the Criminal Code (KUHP) in front of the House of Representatives compound on Sept. 23, 2019. (JP/Donny Fernando)
P
resident Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has ordered the Law and Human Rights Ministry to delay the deliberation of the revision to the Criminal Code amid concerns over its illiberal provisions.
"I will tell the Law and Human Rights Ministry not to rush the process. They need to hear more aspirations from the public," Jokowi said in a meeting with media leaders on Wednesday.
Jokowi was responding to a question regarding what civil society groups deemed as a rushed process in the amendment of the colonial-era Criminal Code.
The ministry had just last week submitted the latest version of the draft bill to the House Commission III overseeing legal affairs and human rights, claiming that it had watered down a set of provisions widely deemed as draconian. But critics said they had been left largely intact.
Lawmakers are currently in a month-long recess and have yet to discuss the draft bill. The Commission III previously had been planning to hear opinions from each House faction regarding the changes proposed by the government in the next sitting session starting in mid-August.
Read also: ‘Final’ penal code bill retains 'colonial' provisions
Commission III deputy chairman Adies Kadir from the Golkar Party said on Thursday that he had yet to hear such information about Jokowi's instruction. But he promised that lawmakers would hear the voices of the public.
