The medal (of honor) of the Republic of Indonesia is aimed at giving special honor to those rendering extraordinary services to the integrity, survival, and glory of the Republic of Indonesia.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Chief of Presidential Staff Moeldoko supported the conferment of medals of honor to Constitutional Court (MK) justices on grounds that it did not diminish the institution's independence.

"Does the awarding of the medals of honor to Constitutional Court justices not reduce independence? No," he stated during a press conference here on Thursday.

Moeldoko expressed belief that the awarding of medals of merit and the medal of honor by the President was stipulated in article 15 of the 1945 Constitution and Emergency Law No. 5 of 1959.

"The medal (of honor) of the Republic of Indonesia is aimed at giving special honor to those rendering extraordinary services to the integrity, survival, and glory of the Republic of Indonesia," he remarked.

Moeldoko reiterated that the medals of honor conferred to MK justices did not hinder the institution's independence since the president awarded them in his capacity as the head of state.

"To this end, the president positions himself as the head of state. Moreover, we also referred to (Constitutional Court justices), such as Mr Jimly Asshiddiqie, Mr Hamdan Zoelfa, and many others, who have once received Mahaputera (the medal of merit). Hence, once again, the president, in his capacity as the head of state, awarded the medals to them in line with the constitutional implementation. Hence, he did not take it for granted to do that. There is an underlying basis," he stated.

To award the medals of honor, the president had established a council forum tasked with assessing the criteria of award recipients in accordance with the procedures.

On Wednesday, President Joko Widodo conferred the Mahaputra Adipradana Star, the highest civil service award, and Bintang Jasa medal to state officials and the 2014-2019 Working Cabinet’s state officials and heirs of medical and health workers, who lost their lives in the line of duties for handling the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recipients of the medals of honor comprise Dr. H. Anwar Usman, S.H., M.H. Chairman of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Indonesia for 2018-2021, Prof. Dr. Arief Hidayat, S.H., M.S. Chairman of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Indonesia for 2015-2018 and Constitutional Justice of the Republic of Indonesia for 2018-2023, and Prof. Dr. Aswanto, S.H., M.Si., DFM., Deputy Chief of the Constitutional Court for the 2018-2021 period.

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Translator: Rangga Pandu AS/Suharto
Editor: Sri Haryati
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