Jimly: Saiful Mujani's Statement Does Not Need to Be Taken Seriously
Former Constitutional Court (MK) Chief Justice Jimly Asshiddiqie believes that Saiful Mujani’s statements regarding the discourse on toppling President Prabowo do not need to be taken seriously by the government.
According to him, the statements reflect Mujani’s unmeasured manner of speaking and language.
“Let it be, Saiful Mujani’s manner of speaking and language is indeed unmeasured. It’s easily seen as provocative,” said Jimly when contacted on Friday (10/4).
This constitutional law expert then criticised the substance of Mujani’s statements, which he deemed not in line with the constitution.
According to him, the replacement of the president is regulated in the constitution through the impeachment mechanism.
“He doesn’t believe in the mechanism already regulated in the constitution, namely impeachment, but instead dreams of it through people’s power. Let it be a lesson for Saiful,” he said.
He stated that Mujani’s statements would also have no impact, as opposing voices are equally balanced.
“The President and his team also do not need to respond too seriously, just take it easy because it won’t have an effect. In fact, rational voices rejecting it are also balanced. The government does not need to respond too seriously, so as not to further widen the tension between state vs society,” he said.
On the other hand, Jimly also reminded the government not to act arrogantly in responding to developing public sentiments.
According to him, if the government acts challengingly, public anger will spread even further.
“A softer communication from the president himself is needed. Reduce explosive speeches that are not measured. Learn from Pak Harto’s leadership management which was softer with measured language,” he said.
Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya had previously responded to Saiful Mujani’s statements regarding the call to overthrow the government. He claimed not to know about Mujani’s statements yet.
“I have a lot of work, I haven’t seen what he said,” said Teddy at the Presidential Palace Complex in Jakarta on Tuesday (7/4).
Besides himself, he mentioned that President RI Prabowo Subianto is also busy with more important matters. He said Prabowo is focusing on more strategic things.
“Especially the President, the President is handling big things, focusing on more strategic matters,” he said.
Meanwhile, Saiful Mujani stated that his statements calling for consolidation to topple President Prabowo Subianto are not a form of treason, but part of a political stance.
“The question is whether my statement can be called treason? I emphasise that it is not treason, but political engagement, namely a political stance or a stance expressed on political issues in front of many people. The politics in that event mainly relates to President Prabowo’s performance,” said Mujani in a written statement.
He explained that a political stance is one level below political participation or political action. Political participation, he said, is the core of democracy.
Mujani said there is no democracy without political participation.
“Political participation or actions aimed at the public interest take many forms. For example, participating in elections, campaigning, contributing to parties or candidates, participating in political actions like demonstrations, strikes, sabotage, and so on, done peacefully. Actions to peacefully remove a president are political participation. That is democracy,” he stated.