Akmalal Hamdhi, Jakarta – The newly revised Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) is set to take effect on Jan. 2, 2026, following its approval in a plenary session of the House of Representatives (DPR) on Tuesday.
Justice Minister Supratman Andi Agtas confirmed the timeline, saying the government is also preparing transitional provisions to align the new procedural law with the recently enacted Criminal Code (KUHP). "Both the substantive and procedural aspects are ready to be enforced starting next year," he said at the DPR complex in Jakarta.
The new KUHAP emphasizes human rights protections and incorporates restorative justice principles, which Supratman said would curb past abuses and better protect vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities. The minister also dismissed what he called misleading information circulating about the law as cited by civil society groups.
Student groups and members of the Civil Society Coalition staged a protest outside the national parliament complex on Tuesday, urging lawmakers to halt deliberations on the bill. The demonstrators presented five demands, including calls for greater transparency, stronger judicial oversight, and withdrawal of the current draft, which they say weakens due process and expands the potential for police abuse.
Muhammad Isnur, a prominent coalition member, criticized the legislative process as rushed, arguing that public input gathered through hearings and written submissions was largely ignored. "Substantively, the articles approved include vague provisions and loopholes that incentivize misuse of authority," he said.
Despite opposition, DPR Speaker Puan Maharani said the bill had undergone extensive consultation over nearly two years, including input from legal practitioners, academics, and regional consultations across Java, Sumatra, Sulawesi, and other areas. She said that the law had integrated more than 130 submissions and denied that the process was hasty.
Puan also responded to a report filed by the coalition with the House Ethics Council (MKD), saying the complaint is under review and will be processed according to parliamentary procedures. "We respect the report and will follow the process. The MKD will provide updates to the leadership," she said.
Critics of Indonesia's revised Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) warn that it grants law enforcement broad powers with limited oversight, including early-stage arrests, searches, surveillance, and wiretaps without judicial approval, and extends detention for serious offenses while centralizing authority under the police.
The only provision lauded by rights groups is the optional installation of security cameras in interrogation and detention rooms to prevent abuse and intimidation.
Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/news/revised-criminal-procedure-law-set-to-take-effect-jan-2-despite-protest