The Legality of the Living Law in the New Indonesian Penal Code

Ferry Fathurokhman; Anna Erliyana; Ali Masyhar; Mutiara Dwi Sari; Iren Sudarya

doi:10.15294/lslr.v10i1.29908

Authors

Ferry Fathurokhman Faculty of Law, University of Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa Author https://orcid.org/0009-0000-8663-0924
Anna Erliyana Faculty of Law, Universitas Indonesia Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9725-9224
Ali Masyhar Faculty of Law, University of Negeri Semarang Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2317-7517
Mutiara Dwi Sari Faculty of Education, Social Sciences, and Islamic Studies, Universiti Muhammadiyah Malaysia Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6632-0387
Iren Sudarya Faculty of Law, Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa Author https://orcid.org/0009-0007-0016-3845

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15294/lslr.v10i1.29908

Keywords:

Legality principle, Living law, New Indonesian penal code

Abstract

Since the Netherland introduced a Penal Code, The Indonesian people are required to rely on the principle of legality as the primary source of law in determining criminal offences. The old penal code does not allow living law to function as an independent source of law. On January 2^nd, 2023, the new Indonesian Penal Code was finally established, which will enter into force within three years after its issuance. The provision of living law in the new Indonesian penal code is formulated in article 2. In its first verse, it is written that “provisions, as referred to Article 1 (legality principle), does not negate the validity of the law that live in a society which stipulates that someone deserves to be punished even though the act is not regulated in this Law." In the explanation section, it is stated that “law that lives in society” (living law) refers to Adat Law, which should be codified through Regional Regulations (Peraturan Daerah). This raises two issues: first, it confines the concept of living law solely to Adat Law; second, it requires Adat Law to be formalized in the form of regional legislation. If Adat Law must be regulated through Regional Regulations, the necessity of Article 2 becomes questionable. The purpose of recognizing living law is to address gaps in legal principles that cannot always keep pace with a rapidly changing society.

Author Biographies

Ferry Fathurokhman, Faculty of Law, University of Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa

Ferry Fathurokhman, S.H., M.H., Ph.D. is a lecturer and dean of the Faculty of Law at Untirta, with a background in Bachelor of Law from the University of Lampung, Master’s degree from Diponegoro University, and Doctorate from Kanazawa University, Japan. His writings have been published in local and national newspapers, as well as in scientific journals of public and private universities. One of his notable works is an anthology titled “The Evolution of New Legal Thought: From Ape to Human, From Positivism to Progressivism.” He has experience as a presenter at various international conferences, including “The 3^rd International Conference on Sustainable Future for Human Security” in Kyoto, Japan. He has experience as a researcher at the Banten Institute, Vice Chair of ICMI in Serang City, Legal Affairs Bureau of Banten Province, Communication Services Team of Banten, and is actively involved as Secretary of the Association of Law Faculties across Indonesia.
Anna Erliyana, Faculty of Law, Universitas Indonesia

Prof. Dr. Anna Erliyana, S.H., M.H. earned her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in Law from the Faculty of Law at the University of Indonesia. Since 1986, she has been a lecturer in the field of Administrative Law and was awarded the title of professor in 2006. Throughout her academic career, she has been actively involved in various research projects on Administrative Law, Administrative Justice, and Human Rights. She has experience as a legal advisor at the Ministry of Education and Culture, a Member of the Honorary Council of the Election Commission, Chair of the Doctoral Program at the Faculty of Law, University of Indonesia, Secretary of the Professorial Council at the Faculty of Law, University of Indonesia, as well as a member of the Academic Senate at the University of Indonesia and the Academic Senate at the Faculty of Law University of Indonesia
Ali Masyhar, Faculty of Law, University of Negeri Semarang

Prof. Dr. Ali Masyhar Mursyid, S.H., M.H. is a professor with a doctorate in criminal law policy at the Faculty of Law, State University of Semarang (UNNES). He obtained his bachelor’s degree in 1999 and master’s degree in 2005 from Diponegoro University, and his doctorate from Gadjah Mada University in 2015. He has extensive experience as an expert and expert witness in criminal law policy, particularly regarding issues of radicalism and terrorism. His work has received hundreds of citations, contributing to the development of criminal law in Indonesia, including the book titled “The Indonesian Approach to Countering Terrorism” and “Criminal Law: A Study Based on Law No. 1 of 2023.” He has held other academic positions, including Director of the Center for Legal Studies and Assistance at UNNES, Advisor to the he Rector of UNNES, and currently serves as Dean of the Faculty of Law at UNNES for the 2023-2028 term.
Mutiara Dwi Sari, Faculty of Education, Social Sciences, and Islamic Studies, Universiti Muhammadiyah Malaysia

Mutiara Dwi Sari, Ph.D., obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Management from University Sains Malaysia in 2009, followed by a Master’s and Doctorate in Social Sciences from the same university in 2010 and 2016. Currently, she serves as the Head of the Doctoral Program in Social Sciences at the Faculty of Education, Social Sciences, and Islamic Studies (FESSIS) at Muhammadiyah University of Malaysia (UMAM), having previously held positions as Director of the Postgraduate Studies Center, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Dean of the Faculty Tourism and Hospitality Management, and Chief Auditor of the Malaysian Research Assessment at Bestari Trengganu University College. He has a diverse publication record, and his work has received numerous citations.
Iren Sudarya, Faculty of Law, Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa

Iren Sudarya, S.H. is an assistant dean and a graduate of the Faculty of Law at Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa with honors. In 2024, she was selected as an Awardee for the Student Exchange Program at Hasanuddin University. During her studies, she contributed as an author for the book on the Indonesian Election Supervisory Agency, participated as an expert in the formulation of public policy at the Ministry of Manpower of the Republic of Indonesia, and represented law students from state universities across Indonesia in proceedings at the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Indonesia. Since 2021, has won various national debate competitions and been named best speaker, has experience as Chairman of the Tirtayasa Law Debate Community, Chairman of the Constitutional Law Student Association, and has been involved in the Center for Indonesia & International Legal Studies, the Student Election Commission of the Faculty of Law at Untirta

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The Legality of the Living Law in the New Indonesian Penal Code

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