Indonesian engineer’s plea to change definition of man-made energy because ‘only God can create energy’ rejected by Constitutional Court

Indrawan Sastronagoro (Right) at the Indonesian Constitutional Court. Photo: mahkamahkonstitusi.go.id
Indrawan Sastronagoro (Right) at the Indonesian Constitutional Court. Photo: mahkamahkonstitusi.go.id

The Indonesian Constitutional Court just heard what might be the strangest case for a judicial review in the senior legal body’s existence.

Yesterday, the court held the final hearing of a judicial review filed by an 80-year-old engineer and Bung Karno University professor named Indrawan Sastronagoro, who argued that the legal definition of ‘new energy’ is constitutionally blasphemous.

It’s admittedly a stretch in logic at first glance, so let’s break down his argument:

According to Indrawan, Law No. 30/2007 on Energy, which contains the following definition…

A new energy source is an energy source that could be produced using new technology, either non-renewable or renewable, including nuclear, hydrogen, coal bed methane, liquefied coal, and gasified coal.

…contradicts Article 29 of Indonesia’s Constitution, which states that the nation is based on belief in an omnipotent God.

“[The Energy Law] shows that God’s power can be rivaled, which is shirk (an Islamic term describing the sin of idolatry or polytheism). Because those who utilize new energy are humans, not animals, that means humans and their new technology can create new energy sources, so [humans] are as clever as all-powerful God. This is what’s called shirk, because in Islam, nobody can become equal to the all-powerful God,” Indrawan told the judges yesterday, as quoted by Detik. 

Furthermore, Indrawan said the definition had caused him ‘material losses’ on a personal level. He said that the law’s existence has bothered him and caused him to be restless, thus decreasing his productivity. He said he used to teach 60 hours a week at his university, but now he can only manage 40.

Be that as it may, the Constitutional Court rejected Indrawan’s plea, ruling that the Energy Law does not suggest that humans can rival God’s power.

“Surely it does not mean that new technology, on its own accord, created new energy sources,” said Constitutional Court Judge Aswanto at the hearing, as quoted in the court’s official website..go.



Reader Interactions

Leave A Reply


BECOME A COCO+ MEMBER

Support local news and join a community of like-minded
“Coconauts” across Southeast Asia and Hong Kong.

Join Now
Coconuts TV
Our latest and greatest original videos
Subscribe on