Amendment to the Constitution

Amendment to the Constitution

From Rakyat Merdeka

The amendment being processed for the 1945 Constitution at the
House of Representatives will apparently take a long time due to
the controversies surrounding its necessity. Some politicians
have also voiced their opinions, which are colored with personal
ambitions. This was, for instance, reflected in the statements by
Amien Rais, the speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly.

Amien said he was greatly concerned about Article 8, which he
says is crucial. Basically, he is afraid that if the president is
prevented from or made incapable of performing his duties for a
certain reason, the vice president will automatically replace
him.

His view might be rational but it suggests that he is afraid
if President Abdurrahman Wahid was unable to continue his duties,
Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri would replace him.

Now if Amien were the vice president, would he have raised
this concern? In all honesty, the cause of this country's bad
condition is not laws or regulations. It is instead caused by
moral and mental ruin, including that of bureaucrats and the
political elite. It is these moral values and mentality which
need amendment.

JIWANDONO

Bekasi, West Java