REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) lauded the performance and innovation initiated by the Supreme Court (MA) in addressing legal development in Indonesia. "I appreciate the efforts of the Supreme Court in realizing the principle of justice that is simple, fast, and low cost," Jokowi said at the annual plenary meeting of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) at the parliament complex, Jakarta, on Friday.
"I support the Supreme Court's efforts to facilitate the people in seeking justice," the president added, in delivering his annual speech before the MPR, the House of Representatives (DPR) and the Regional Representatives Council (DPD).
President Jokowi also asserted his support for the Supreme Court to build a culture of awareness and a culture of law-abiding to become more entrenched in people's lives. He emphasized that now, as the electronic-based system has been implemented in all justice institutions, it is easier for the public to submit their legal cases and make payments online.
The process of calling and notifying hearings, as well as the submission of judicial decisions are also carried out online. "In fact, the Supreme Court has now gone even further by developing e-court towards e-litigation. We must appreciate all of these innovation steps," Jokowi, who was re-elected as president for 2019-2024 period, noted.
Expanding access to justice seekers is also carried out by the Supreme Court, he continued. By the end of 2018, the Supreme Court has inaugurated 85 new courts in various parts of the country. There are an additional 30 District Courts, 50 Religious Courts, three Sharia Courts, and two State Administrative Courts.
From these various steps, the Supreme Court succeeded in reducing the number of arrears to 906 cases in 2018. "(This is) the lowest number (of the reducing arrears) in the history of the establishment of the Supreme Court," Jokowi noted.
The Supreme Court also continues to improve by carrying out a number of corrective steps, such as updating the procedures for resolving simple claims and renewing the case management.