House of Representatives Appreciates Constitutional Court Ruling on State Officials' Pension Law
Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Legislation Body (Baleg), Ahmad Doli Kurnia Tandjung, has welcomed the Constitutional Court’s ruling that conditionally declares Law No. 12 of 1980 on the pension rights of high-ranking state officials unconstitutional. Ahmad Doli stated that the ruling must be respected.
In the ruling read out on Monday, 16 March 2026, the MK stated that the law no longer has legal force, requiring the DPR and the government to revise it within a two-year period.
“The ruling is excellent, as it mandates adjustments to various changes in the state’s structure and institutions, which we have not yet undertaken,” Doli said via a short message on Tuesday, 17 March 2026.
The Golkar Party politician expressed his appreciation by thanking the petitioners and the Constitutional Court for deciding the matter. According to Doli, the judicial review serves as a reminder that regulatory adjustments are necessary.
“The message in the ruling is clear enough for us, the lawmakers, to use as material for study in determining policies related to institutions and state financial rights, among others,” said the member of Commission II of the DPR.
He further stated that the DPR, together with the government, will follow up on the MK’s ruling no later than two years from now. According to Doli, the revision of Law No. 12 of 1980 will regulate pension payments, honours, and other matters that need to be carried out proportionally.
The order to revise Law No. 12 of 1980 is the MK’s decision on case No. 191/PUU-XXIII/2025, filed by Ahmad Sadzali and associates.
The petitioners in this case challenged several articles in Law No. 12 of 1980 on the Financial/Administrative Rights of Leaders and Members of High State Institutions as well as Former Leaders and Members of High State Institutions.
The challenged articles include Article 12 paragraphs (1) and (2), Article 16 paragraph (1) a, Article 17 paragraph (1), Article 18 paragraph (1) a, as well as Article 19 paragraphs (1) and (2) of Law 12/1980. One of them regulates pension rights for DPR and MPR members.
In their petition, the applicants requested that Articles 12 paragraphs (1) and (2) of Law No. 12 of 1980 be declared conditionally unconstitutional/contrary to the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia and without binding legal force, insofar as they include officials resulting from general elections.
According to the MK, the law is no longer in line with current conditions. Suhartoyo stated that Law 12/1980 has lost its relevance to be maintained. Therefore, the MK has asked the DPR to revise and adjust the regulations to the current state conditions.
In the legal considerations read out by Constitutional Court Justice Saldi Isra, there are five guidelines for adjustments that must be carried out by the legislative body.