YOGYAKARTA – After the reform, the Government and the House of Representatives have produced about 426 Acts. Based on the research results conducted by UGM Center for Pancasila Studies, there are 102 Acts being questioned by the Constitutional Court, some 5 Acts are declared as having no binding legal force while several chapters and paragraphs in 37 Acts do not have binding legal force. "This condition is very worrying," said researcher of Pancasila Studies Center, Heri Santoso, M. Hum., Monday (2/1).
To follow up the research results, the Center has conducted a poll for students to find their response. The poll involved 360 students respondents from 12 universities in Yogyakarta, consisting of 180 students of the Faculty of Law of UGM, UII, UAD, UMY, UIN, and UAJY, and 180 non-law students from UNY, UPN, UKDW, UST, UP '45, and USD.
Results of the poll showed that about 65% of students stated their doubt that the Act has been produced in accordance with the values of Pancasila. Nevertheless, as much as 69% claimed to have never read and studied it seriously. Results also showed a significant difference, 58% of law students claimed to have never read and studied seriously and 42% said the opposite. Meanwhile, 80% of non-law students claimed to have never read and studied the Act seriously and 20% of respondents claimed to the contrary. "The majority of respondents, who are in fact educated people, is less interested in reading and studying the Acts seriously," said team leader of this poll.
In connection with the Act that mostly does not correspond to the values of Pancasila, the students also agreed to conduct judicial review. As many as 61% expressed the need for judicial review and 39% of respondents assessed judicial review unnecessary. The majority of law students, 67%, viewed that judicial review should be done, while 54% of non-law students claimed that judicial review is needed.
The research team consisting of Sulyanati, Surono, Agung, S.S, Widodo, and Diasma, S.S., also said the poll results are intended to determine the public response to the Act. Moreover, the results of this poll warned the compilers and certifier of the Acts in the foreseeable future to be more earnestly and more carefully drafting them.
In closing, Heri reminded all components of the nation that this country is a state of law, not state of regulations, therefore, not every problem should be resolved through legislation. "So, we shall not get carried away by the rules," he concluded.