RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Indonesia is currently drafting a Bill on Private International Law. Among other things, the bill will regulate the jurisdiction of Indonesian courts in handling disputes involving foreign elements and the scope of foreign court decisions that can be recognized and enforced within Indonesia’s jurisdiction.

The country's Minister of Law, Supratman Andi Agtas, said the bill is intended to replace similar regulations enacted during the Dutch East Indies era. They include the 19th-century General Regulations Concerning Legislation for Indonesia (AB) and Law on Legal Action Procedure (RV).

"At present, the regulations regarding private international law that protect the legal activities of Indonesian legal subjects when interacting with foreign legal subjects still refer to regulations from the Dutch East Indies era, which are increasingly inadequate to address the complexity of naturally transnational legal issues," he said during an initial meeting with the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) in Jakarta on Wednesday, March 11, 2026.

In addition, Supratman said the bill is in line with the nation's long-term development plan for 2045. "Decolonization" of legal sources, according to him, becomes a way to bring the supremacy of law in.

"The legal development is directed at realizing the supremacy of law that is just, certain, beneficial, and human rights-based, which is implemented primarily through policy directions, including accelerating the renewal of the legal substance of colonial heritage," he said.

Supratman added that establishing the Private International Law Bill could provide legal protection and certainty, offer comprehensive guidelines for judges, improve national competitiveness, and increase foreign parties' confidence in Indonesia’s legal system.

"As part of the national legal system, the Draft Bill on Private International Law will serve as a safeguard to protect national interests in the arena of global relations, while also fostering attractiveness and a sense of security for foreign parties in establishing civil legal relationships in Indonesia," he said.

"It is hoped that the bill will provide a legal basis within Indonesia’s national legal system to address issues of private international law involving Indonesia," he conveyed.

During the meeting, the House agreed to continue discussing the bill together with the government. In Indonesia, a bill must first be agreed upon for joint discussion between the DPR and the government before it can be passed into law.