Choosing the chief justice

Choosing the chief justice

From Rakyat Merdeka

If the President gives his pretext that the chief justice is
yet to be chosen from the two candidates offered by the House of
Representatives, the demand that an explanation about this matter
be given must be addressed directly to the president himself, and
not to Megawati. It is the President that is authorized to decide
which of the candidates will assume the position of chief
justice. Why must Megawati make an explanation about this matter
to other people? If it is said that the hurdle in this matter is
that Megawati disapproves of the two candidates, then it is the
President that must make an explanation on this matter.

The stance of Megawati as general chairperson of the
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) is
implied in the decision made by the PDI Perjuangan faction to
walk out of a plenary session of the House the other day. It is
not Megawati's business to interfere in the messy election of the
chief justice. If the President, for example, agrees with the DPR
on the candidates for chief justice, then Megawati can do
nothing.

I believe there is an ulterior motive behind the demand that
Megawati expresses her opinion about this matter. Therefore, she
must turn a deaf ear to such a demand. Megawati may have told the
President what she thinks about this matter and this is not to be
publicized.

Megawati is wise when deciding not to give much comment on the
president's policies and habits. In this way, she prevents
misinterpretation of her statements. Such misinterpretation may
be geared towards the political interests of certain quarters.
Everybody who knows Megawati must know that she always upholds
the constitution. She will leave every problem to be dealt with
by a proper legal procedure and however bitter the outcome may be
she will accept it. So, if Muladi, one of the two candidates for
the chief justice, has asked Megawati to say something outside
the prevailing procedure, this request need not be responded to.

MAKMOER MOECHSIN

Jakarta