Constitution to get local translations

Constitution to get local translations

Andi Hajramurni, The Jakarta Post, Makassar

To assist the public in interpreting the amended Constitution,
the Constitutional Court has recommended that regional
administrations work together with higher learning institutions
to translate it into their respective local languages.

The matter was conveyed by Constitutional Court Chief Justice
Jimly Asshiddique to reporters after attending the inaugural
speech of Constitutional Justice Laica Marzuki, who was appointed
as a professor at Hasanuddin University's School of Law, in
Makassar on Saturday.

According to Jimly, the constitution has now been translated
into Javanese and Balinese, and is still in the process of being
translated into Manadonese and Acehnese, as well as Arabic.

Jimly said that in South Sulawesi alone, the provincial
administration and four higher learning institutions in
collaboration with the Constitutional Court had completed
translating the Constitution into four local dialects including
Bugis, Makassarese, Tana Toraja and Mandarese.

Jimly acknowledged that the number of articles in the
Constitution had increased significantly after amendments had
been made to the constitution.

There are now 199 articles compared to the previous 71, of
which only 25 are still in their original form.

"After being amended, the size of the Constitution increased
almost 300 percent. This is quite troublesome to try and
socialize to the public, and it needs to be translated into local
dialects so that they better understand it," said Jimly.

On the same occasion, Jimly also indicated that lawmakers
should provide wider access to the public to be involved and
participate in the law-making process, so as to avoid problems.

He cited as an example Law No. 32/2004 on provincial
administration, which had prompted numerous protests and was
criticized by sections of the public.

"This shows that people were not involved when the law was
being drafted, and later caused problems and protests. So, I
remind the legislators to provide opportunities for the public to
be involved, before a law is passed, and involve higher learning
institutions to make studies," he said.