Constitutional bill now urgent

JAKARTA: Constitutional law experts demanded that the bill on the constitutional court be discussed properly and finished immediately so as to help solve constitutional problems facing the country.

The Association of Indonesian Constitutional and Administrative Law Teachers said here on Wednesday that the constitutional court must be given its proper place in the new format of the country's constitution.

"We have to appreciate that the existence of the constitutional court, as a new institution that will be at the same level as the Supreme Court, the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) and the president, will be very significant in solving the increasing number of difficult constitutional problems," the group said.

Recruitment of members of the court, according to the association, ought to be based on a candidate's track record that qualitatively met the requirements. "They must be competent and independent, and really understand the principles of Indonesia's constitutional law." -- JP