REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- President Joko Widodo has instructed the Finance Minister to attend a judicial review session on the Tax Amnesty Law at the Constitutional Court in an attempt to explain the regulation comprehensively.
"The government will appoint legal experts, who can explain the terms of law. I will ask the Finance Minister to attend the judicial review session to give a comprehensive explanation," President Joko Widodo said in a meeting with mass media editors here on Thursday.
The president did not voice his disapproval of the civil society organization, which had sought a judicial review on the Tax Amnesty Law, as it was the right of every citizen in line with the law.
He, however, remarked that the presence of the Finance Minister in the judicial review session was very important. The minister was expected to explain the law materially and the advantages of the regulation to boost the national economy. Bank Indonesia (BI) had earlier said there is no cause for worry about any move to file a legal suit with the Constitutional Court against the tax amnesty law.
Central Bank Governor Agus Martowardojo said the government and the House of Representatives have already considered such a move when they gave their approval for the new law.
"I have seen there is always move to file a legal suit with the Constitutional Court against any new law. Therefore, I think it is just normal," Agus said on Monday.
Agus further stated that the tax amnesty law was approved by the House last month, and had garnered positive sentiments resulting in a strong inflow of foreign capital into the domestic financial market.
The rupiah's value strengthened against the U.S. dollar, with the growing inflow of foreign capital reaching Rp97 trillion until June 24, he added.
He also noted that the new law had also succeeded in cushioning the impact of global financial turbulence triggered by Britain pulling out of the European Union in what has been termed as "Brexit."
Last Sunday, a group from individuals from Yayasan Satu Keadilan, and Serikat Perjuangan Rakyat Indonesia (SPRI) and a number of other people, said they would file a lawsuit against the tax amnesty law in the Constitutional Court.
They claimed the law was not fair to the people and that it facilitated tax criminals instead of punishing them.