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Insulting House could now be felony

Jakarta Post - March 15, 2018

Criticism of parliament potentially criminalized as MD3 law goes into effect today – Coconuts Jakarta. March 14, 2018
The trouble with Indonesia's controversial MD3 law – The Diplomat. March 2, 2018
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Beyond the bounds of democracy: DPR consolidates its power – Indonesia at Melbourne. February 23, 2018
Jokowi's agenda safe as Setya returns – Jakarta Post. December 17, 2016

Nurul Fitri Ramadhani and Marguerite Afra Sapiie, Jakarta – Former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid was the only president after the Reform Era to have publicly insulted the House of Representatives, comparing it to a kindergarten.

Years after making the statement, the late president and influential Muslim cleric doubled down on his attack on the House, saying the legislative body was "chaotic" and had devolved from a kindergarten into a playgroup.

It is said that Gus Dur regretted comparing House members to kindergarten students, saying the latter were pure and innocent and therefore not alike.

But his jokes about the House may be a thing of the past, however, as starting Wednesday, it is unclear whether one can make such jokes in public after the Legislative Institutions (MD3) Law came into force.

The law, which took effect on Wednesday, grants the House's ethics council (MKD) the authority to press charges against those accused of disrespecting the House or its members.

To make matters worse, the law also stipulates that House members cannot be investigated by law enforcement authorities without the approval of the president and the consideration of the MKD.

Civil society groups have said the provision could be easily abused to silence critics, though lawmakers have dismissed such concerns as baseless, saying they could differentiate between legitimate criticism and insults.

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said he was aware of the public's concern about the law, which he had refused to sign, but made clear that there was nothing he could do to repeal the law other than ask the public to challenge it at the Constitutional Court.

Laws passed by the House will take effect after 30 days with or without the President's signature.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2018/03/15/insulting-house-could-now-be-felony.html.