Megawati Worries That Unjust Law Could Tear Apart National Unity

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Indonesia’s fifth President, Megawati Soekarnoputri, admitted to being worried that the law in Indonesia might operate without delivering justice that benefits its people.

“Justice forms the foundation and goal for the ideals of prosperity. Without just law, national unity can easily be torn apart by vested interests. This is what I’m worried about; it could happen,” said Megawati during her speech at the conferment of the Emeritus Professor title to former Constitutional Court Justice Arief Hidayat at Borobudur University, Jakarta, on Saturday (2/5/2026).

This is to ensure that all the basic principles are present and can provide justice for Indonesian society.

“Pancasila is not only the basis of the state but also the goal, the way of life, and it contains a narrative of liberation that must be lived. This is the entire practice of law,” said Megawati.

According to Megawati, Pancasila must serve as the source of values to ensure that the law does not deviate, and its main purpose is to provide social justice for all Indonesian people.

“Indonesia’s rule of law must thus be built on two main pillars, namely Pancasila as the basis of moral energy and the spirit of liberation, and progressive law as the method of practice,” said Megawati.

“Without both, the law will lose direction and has the potential to become a tool of power that actually distances itself from the people. This trend seems to be heading that way,” she continued.

During her speech, Megawati questioned the situation of individuals who have suspect status but are still free to roam.

“What about suspects, really? I even laughed to myself; they say they’re already suspects, so how can they wander around everywhere? Do they need to be stamped? Do they need to be stamped? There are many, don’t turn a blind eye,” said Megawati.

On Saturday (2/5/2026), Megawati attended the conferment of the Emeritus Professor title in Constitutional Law from Borobudur University to former Constitutional Court Justice Arief Hidayat.

The conferment event for Arief Hidayat was attended by several rectors and professors from other universities.

Meanwhile, several former Constitutional Court justices who were colleagues of Arief, such as Suhartoyo and Saldi Isra, were also present.