REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- President Joko Widodo has confirmed, he has yet to sign the bill of the Legislative Institutions Law (MD3 law) that has been passed into law by the House of Representatives' plenary session earlier. He said, the document was already on his desk.
"But I still have yet to sign it. Until now, I have not yet signed it because I want to study whether or not it will need the signature," Joko Widodo or Jokowi as he popularly known said on the sideline of national working meeting of Hubbul Wathon dhikr assembly here on Wednesday.
According to the President, the study would be necessary as a response to public anxiety over the MD3 Law, that it would spark an overlap between law, ethics and politic. "I think we don't want to see a declining quality in our democracy," Jokowi said.
He has invited those who disagree with the new law to take legal measures and request for judicial review in the Constitution Court.
However, the law would still be valid, because under the regulation, a draft law that failed to get the president's signature within 30 days after it was passed by the parliament, would automatically be valid as a law.
On Monday, the House passed an amendment to the MD3 Law, that would add the number of leaders in the legislative bodies, and give it the ability to take legal action against those who "undermine its honor or that of its members".
Article 245 of the law stipulated that law enforcement investigations into members' activities must first be considered by the House's Ethics Council, and approved by the president.
Article 122 of the law states that the MKD has the power to take legal action and/or other actions against persons, groups or legal entities that "disrespect the dignity of the House and its members."
While article 73 said that the House would have the authority to summon high-ranked state officials, legal institutions and common people by force.
Eight parties, including the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Golkar Party and the Democratic Party, supported the bill.
The United Development Party (PPP) and the National Democratic Party (Nasdem) reportedly walked out from Monday's meeting.
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