MKD: Selection of Adies Kadir as Constitutional Court Justice Did Not Violate Ethics
The Chairman of the House of Representatives' Ethics Council (MKD), Nazaruddin Dek Gam, has stated that no ethical violations were found in the process of appointing Adies Kadir as a Constitutional Court justice. He said the fit and proper test process and the selection of the former Golkar politician were conducted in accordance with applicable requirements.
He referred to regulations concerning the Law on the People's Consultative Assembly, the House of Representatives, the Regional Representative Council, and Regional People's Representative Councils, including the rules of procedure and code of ethics contained in House regulations.
"No ethical violations were found, which was confirmed at the DPR plenary session," Nazaruddin said at the House complex in Jakarta on Wednesday, 18 February 2026.
Adies Kadir is a Constitutional Court justice nominated by the House of Representatives. He replaces Justice Arief Hidayat, who completed his term of service in early February 2026.
Nazaruddin said Adies Kadir's candidacy began when it emerged that the previous candidate, Inosentius Samsul, had been assigned to other duties. This situation, he explained, meant the former Head of the DPR's Expert Body could not continue as a Constitutional Court candidate despite having already been approved at a plenary session.
He then explained that Commission III of the House conducted a fit and proper test for Adies Kadir on 26 January 2026. The former Deputy Speaker of the House was subsequently approved by acclamation as the DPR-nominated Constitutional Court justice candidate.
Nazaruddin said the investigation into alleged ethical violations in the Adies Kadir appointment process was conducted by his body as a case without a formal complaint. "The investigation originated from the considerable public attention directed at this matter," he said.
Adies Kadir took his oath of office before President Prabowo Subianto at an inauguration ceremony at the State Palace in Jakarta on 5 February 2026. In his oath, Adies expressed his commitment to fulfilling the constitutional mandate during his tenure.
"In the name of God, I swear that I will fulfil the obligations of a Constitutional Court justice to the best of my ability and as fairly as possible, uphold the 1945 Constitution and carry out all regulations with full responsibility," Adies said.
The day after his inauguration, 21 legal practitioners and academics from the Constitutional and Administrative Law Society (CALS) reported Adies Kadir to the Constitutional Court Ethics Council (MKMK) over alleged ethical violations.
The organisation's founder, Bivitri Susanti, said the former House member was alleged to have disregarded an improper appointment process as a parliament-nominated justice. The selection of Adies was not preceded by the formal revocation of Inosentius Samsul, the previous DPR-chosen candidate who had already been approved at a plenary session.
The nomination and vetting process for Adies Kadir was also conducted with unusual speed. "Surely Adies should have refused his candidacy given the procedural flaws," Bivitri said, as quoted from Tempo's weekly report.
The lecturer at the Jentera Indonesian Law School also questioned Adies's track record during his time at the House. Adies, who formerly served as Deputy Chairman of Commission III, was said to have been a driving force behind the revision of the Constitutional Court Law between 2023 and 2025. "We are concerned that Adies's presence will significantly affect the composition of the bench," she said.
He referred to regulations concerning the Law on the People's Consultative Assembly, the House of Representatives, the Regional Representative Council, and Regional People's Representative Councils, including the rules of procedure and code of ethics contained in House regulations.
"No ethical violations were found, which was confirmed at the DPR plenary session," Nazaruddin said at the House complex in Jakarta on Wednesday, 18 February 2026.
Adies Kadir is a Constitutional Court justice nominated by the House of Representatives. He replaces Justice Arief Hidayat, who completed his term of service in early February 2026.
Nazaruddin said Adies Kadir's candidacy began when it emerged that the previous candidate, Inosentius Samsul, had been assigned to other duties. This situation, he explained, meant the former Head of the DPR's Expert Body could not continue as a Constitutional Court candidate despite having already been approved at a plenary session.
He then explained that Commission III of the House conducted a fit and proper test for Adies Kadir on 26 January 2026. The former Deputy Speaker of the House was subsequently approved by acclamation as the DPR-nominated Constitutional Court justice candidate.
Nazaruddin said the investigation into alleged ethical violations in the Adies Kadir appointment process was conducted by his body as a case without a formal complaint. "The investigation originated from the considerable public attention directed at this matter," he said.
Adies Kadir took his oath of office before President Prabowo Subianto at an inauguration ceremony at the State Palace in Jakarta on 5 February 2026. In his oath, Adies expressed his commitment to fulfilling the constitutional mandate during his tenure.
"In the name of God, I swear that I will fulfil the obligations of a Constitutional Court justice to the best of my ability and as fairly as possible, uphold the 1945 Constitution and carry out all regulations with full responsibility," Adies said.
The day after his inauguration, 21 legal practitioners and academics from the Constitutional and Administrative Law Society (CALS) reported Adies Kadir to the Constitutional Court Ethics Council (MKMK) over alleged ethical violations.
The organisation's founder, Bivitri Susanti, said the former House member was alleged to have disregarded an improper appointment process as a parliament-nominated justice. The selection of Adies was not preceded by the formal revocation of Inosentius Samsul, the previous DPR-chosen candidate who had already been approved at a plenary session.
The nomination and vetting process for Adies Kadir was also conducted with unusual speed. "Surely Adies should have refused his candidacy given the procedural flaws," Bivitri said, as quoted from Tempo's weekly report.
The lecturer at the Jentera Indonesian Law School also questioned Adies's track record during his time at the House. Adies, who formerly served as Deputy Chairman of Commission III, was said to have been a driving force behind the revision of the Constitutional Court Law between 2023 and 2025. "We are concerned that Adies's presence will significantly affect the composition of the bench," she said.