Yusril: Indonesia is a State of Law, Not a State of Power

Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra has called on state apparatus to make the supremacy of law their primary guideline in running the government and serving the public. “Our country has been agreed upon as a state of law, not a state of power. Law without power is meaningless, but power without law can turn into tyranny and arbitrariness,” Yusril said during a working visit to the Institute of Public Administration (IPDN) in Sumedang, West Java, on Monday (13/7). Yusril stated that all actions by state administrators must be based on law because Indonesia is a state of law, not a country that prioritises power. The message was delivered to IPDN cadets as future state apparatus so they understand their responsibilities in running the government and serving the community. According to Yusril, state apparatus must be able to understand the relationship between legal certainty and justice, especially when facing issues involving various legal provisions. “When IPDN alumni later go into the community, they must uphold the applicable law, applying the most just law when conflicts between legal norms arise, whether when making a decision or formulating a policy,” he said. He assessed that understanding the law is not enough if it is limited to mastering written regulations; it must also be accompanied by the ability to comprehend the value of justice as the main objective of law enforcement. Yusril said state apparatus must also have integrity so that their authority is used appropriately and does not conflict with the principles of a state of law. “Most importantly, they must be wise in making decisions by applying the principle that above legal norms there are ethical norms. Ethical norms are based on the norms of justice, and that is what must be done,” he said. He added that democracy and development will not run optimally without justice being felt by the public. “Because our society, even if democracy is highly developed, especially if the economy is developing, without justice the people will eventually rebel as well,” Yusril said. He expressed hope that IPDN cadets would become state apparatus capable of maintaining a balance between legal compliance, integrity, and responsibility in serving the public.