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View all search resultsAmendment disagreement: Jokowi says no, MPR divided
Assembly leaders have said the constitutional amendment will simply reinstate the now-defunct State Policy Guidelines (GBHN), a legacy of former president Soeharto’s New Order regime. However, certain parties are pushing for a wider-ranging amendment.
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Legislators gather for the plenary meeting of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) in Jakarta in October. (JP/Seto Wardhana)
P
resident Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has expressed his disapproval of the People's Consultative Assembly’s (MPR) plan to amend the constitution, saying the nation should focus on the challenges that lie ahead and not on making political noise.
Despite the President’s opposition, several political parties in his coalition are continuing to press the issue.
On Wednesday, Assembly leaders continued their road show to “absorb” public opinion on the proposed amendment. They visited the headquarters of the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI), where the ulemas expressed their support for a limited constitutional amendment.
The MUI said Assembly leaders should first thoroughly assess whether an amendment was necessary.
“If the MPR goes ahead with the constitutional amendment, however, the MUI will understand as long as the amendment focuses only on reinstating the State Policy Guidelines [GBHN],” MUI leader Basri Bermanda said.
Assembly leaders have insisted that the constitutional amendment will only reinstate the now-defunct GBHN, a legacy of former president Soeharto’s New Order regime.
The reinstatement of the GBHN could wrest some independence away from the executive, as the MPR would have the power to decide whether the President’s policies were in line with the policy guidelines.
