Academic urges widespread distribution of new Criminal Code and Criminal Procedure Code e-books to regions

A legal scholar has recommended that the Ministry of Law widely distribute the new Criminal Code (KUHP) and Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) to regions in electronic format. Andi Muhamad Asrun, a Professor of Constitutional Law at Pakuan University’s Postgraduate School in Bogor, stated that the books should be disseminated to city and district governments, regional offices of the Ministry of Law, and universities with a focus on legal education. “These books must be distributed more widely. To the regions, local governments, right down to the city and district level if possible. Then to the Ministry of Law’s regional offices, and universities. If physical copies are not feasible, they can be distributed as e-books,” Asrun said when contacted in Jakarta on Monday. He described the enactment of the new KUHP and KUHAP as a monumental achievement by the House of Representatives and the government for the Indonesian nation, replacing the colonial-era criminal code. Asrun also urged the government to promptly issue implementing regulations to serve as a guideline for law enforcement officials in applying the new national criminal code, which officially came into force on 2 January 2026 and represents a paradigm shift from retribution to corrective and restorative justice.