Pontianak – The Indonesian Criminal Law and Criminology Society (Mahupiki) and Tanjungpura University held socialization of the National Criminal Code (KUHP) at the Mercure Hotel Pontianak City Center, West Kalimantan, Wednesday (18/1/2023).
Secretary General of the Indonesian Criminal Law and Criminology Society (Secretary General of Mahupiki), Dr. Ahmad Sofian stressed that the entire process of drafting the National Criminal Code had accommodated a number of public aspirations.
“The National Criminal Code has been initiated by intergenerational figures, the Government and the Indonesian Parliament, which accommodates all public aspirations,” he said.
According to him, because for more than 100 years the Indonesian nation used a legal system made by the Dutch colonialists, now people should be proud of the birth of the National Criminal Code. The old Criminal Code had many irrelevant things so it was very important to have an update.
“We are proud of Law No. 1/2023, the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, has ratified this law. And the DPR RI has also promulgated it in December 2022, from the previous Criminal Code Bill to become the Criminal Code Law. Because for more than 100 years we have continued to use the Criminal Code made by the Dutch colonialists, so it is very important to reform it,” added Secretary General Mahupiki.
Deputy Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of Tanjungpura (UNTAN), Dr Ir. Radian revealed that reform is very important to further strengthen the existence of law in the country. The National Criminal Code has also presented legal certainty and presented harmonization of national values.
“Academicians play an important role in providing a lot of input related to law. As a rule of law country, we need reform to strengthen the existence of law in Indonesia. The National Criminal Code is able to overcome legal uncertainty in Indonesia,” he explained.
Professor of the Faculty of Law, Semarang State University (UNNES), Prof. Dr. R Benny Riyanto stated that a public hearing process had been carried out in the preparation of the original legal system made by the nation’s children.
“The National Criminal Code was born through a public hearing process so that it accommodates all aspirations from all elements of society. So we have to carry out what has become our decision together, “he explained.
According to him, it is very important to have socialization to fill the 3-year transitional period after the ratification of the National Criminal Code to the public so that they are able to provide a complete understanding.
On the same occasion, Professor of the Faculty of Law, University of Indonesia (UI), Prof. Dr. Topo Santoso said that the National Criminal Code has accommodated many conformities with the times.
“In Chapter I in Book I, now it has accommodated many changes in modern times, which were not covered in the old Criminal Code, as well as other principles that also accommodate many developments in modern times,” he said.
Professor of the Faculty of Law, Diponegoro University (UNDIP), Prof. Dr. Pujiyono explained that in criminal law there are norms and values, so if people want to criticize, they should understand Book I first.
“If we talk about Book II, of course it cannot be separated from Book I. When we criticize Book II, we should first understand Book I. Because criminal law has two cores, namely norms and values. So that in Book II is the norm, but the basic concepts and ideas are in Book I,” he concluded.
