MKMK Chairman Reported for Ethics Violations; Democrat Party Lawmaker Says No One Is Immune

Member of the House of Representatives’ Commission III and head of the Democrat Party faction caucus, Hinca Pandjaitan, has responded to the complaint filed against the Chairman of the Constitutional Court’s Ethics Council (MKMK), I Dewa Gede Palguna, over alleged violations of the ethical code. Hinca said every public complaint must be responded to openly.

“We held a dialogue yesterday and I believe it is our duty and function to remind all parties to stay on track. If there is a complaint from the public regarding the MKMK submitted to the MKMK, it must of course be properly addressed because that is the voice of the people,” Hinca said at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Monday (23/2/2026).

He stated that no party is immune from oversight. All public officials, he said, can be supervised and corrected.

“No one is immune, no one is untouchable — everyone can be supervised and corrected. That is how power works: checks and balances. No one should feel they have won alone, feel they hold power alone, feel they monopolise things alone — no,” he said.

“The performance of all public officials is now open and transparent in the public eye, and the space for that exists. When the public exercises its rights, we must of course respect that,” he added.

According to Hinca, the MKMK Chairman, as the subject of the complaint, must explain the substance of the allegations. He urged the public to await that response.

“Just look at the rules of the game — what is permitted and what is not. The public can read it and say, ‘This isn’t allowed, why did you do it?’ Now he must explain to the public regarding the complaint. Let him answer and we shall wait for that,” he said.

The Indonesian Student Forum (Formasi) has filed a complaint against Palguna with the MKMK. The complaint was submitted over alleged violations of the ethical code and conduct of constitutional court justices.

“Formasi considers that the attitude and actions of I Dewa Gede Palguna in carrying out his function as MKMK Chairman have exceeded the bounds of ethical propriety for the office and have shown a tendency towards the personalisation of authority that is inconsistent with the values of judicial independence,” read Formasi’s official statement, issued on Saturday (21/2).

Contacted separately, Palguna initially thought the complaint had been misdirected. He said this was because the report referred to a “constitutional court justice.”

“I had indeed received word of this from the Secretariat yesterday. However, since the report apparently names ‘constitutional court justice’ I Dewa Gede Palguna, I thought it was sent to the wrong address,” Palguna said.

Nevertheless, Palguna said he would face the complaint directed at him, including the allegations of ethical violations.

“Of course I must face this with magnanimity and humility. This is an occupational risk,” he said.