REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Member of the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission III Saan Mustopa said that the authority of the Constitutional Court or MK should be immediately restored before the 2014 legislative elections.
"The authority of the Constitutional Court as a state institution which guards the constitution should be restored," Saan said on Sunday on the sidelines of joining the leisure biking activity in Karawang, West Java province.
According to him, the decline of the Constitutional Court's authority would not only harm the institution, but also would endanger the 2014 general elections.
"MK is experiencing a tremendous crisis of confidence, after the arrest of its former Chief Justice Akil Mochtar," he said.
Akil Mochtar was arrested by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for allegedly receiving bribes linked to dispute over the results of elections for the Gunung Mas district head in Central Kalimantan and the Lebak district head in Banten.
Saan stated further that the recent anarchic occurrence in the MK courtroom relating to the dispute of the Maluku gubernatorial election, could not be regarded as a spontaneous event.
He also noted that vandalism incidents that occurred in the courtroom is a manifestation of the collapse of the MK authority.
Meanwhile, a communication science professor said in Bali that it would take years for the Constitutional Court to restore its authority following the recent detention of former chief justice Akil Mochtar on corruption charges.
"Since Akil Mochtar`s case was unveiled, the MK`s authority has continued to decline and it will take years to restore the public`s confidence in it," Prof Deddy Mulyana said here on Saturday, after speaking at a seminar at state Hindhu Dharma Institute.
With regard to recent rioting at MK`s courtroom, he urged the law enforcement officers to continue to work to thoroughly settle the incident.
"Those who have rioted must be punished to provide a deterrent effect," he said.
Several people were involved in rioting and vandalizing in court following the court`s ruling that turned down their demand for a repeat of a regional election to choose the next governor of Maluku province.
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