Political Configuration and Characteristics of Legal Products of Islamic Law Based Reforms in Indonesia under the BJ Habibie Administration

Ibnu Radwan Siddik Turnip

Muhamad Hasan Sebyar

 

Abstract: This article investigates the significance of legal reforms during the tenure of BJ Habibie (an Indonesian politician, engineer and scientist who served as the third president of Indonesia from 1998 to 1999), focusing on the configuration and characterisation of legislative products and their impact on the country's legal and political landscape. The primary objective is to examine how these reforms, including Law No. 10/1998 on Banking, Law No. 17/1999 on Hajj Management, Law No. 35/1999 on the Judiciary, and Law No. 38/1999 on Zakat Management, were formulated and implemented in response to aspirations of the Muslim-majority population and broader democratization efforts. The normative analysis presented in this article is based on a legal history and legal politics approaches. Using qualitative analysis method, legislative documents, historical records, and secondary sources are investigated to understand the context, processes, and outcomes of legal reforms during the BJ Habibie era. The analysis also includes the roles played by political parties, legislative bodies, Muslim organizations, and the media in shaping and supporting these legal changes. This article argues that the Habibie administration's legal reforms were characterized by a commitment to inclusivity, transparency, and responsiveness to the Muslim community's demands. His Islamic law reforms reflected a shift towards integrating Islamic principles into the national legal framework. The proactive role of the House of Representatives (known as DPR in Indonesia), engagement of Muslim organizations, and supportive media coverage were crucial in facilitating the enactment of these laws. However, this article argues that despite significant progress, challenges remain to be addressed in the effective implementation and public acceptance of the new legal products.