Struck by the Mace

The Dewan Deputi royal mace placed on the dispatch table beside sacred texts during prayers, the beginning of each day's sitting. The royal maces are the symbol of the Hindia Belandan Sovereign and therefore must be present within the chambers of both houses of parliament.

In the Hindia Belandan parliament, an MP or a member of the Dewan Bangsawan is said to have been ‘struck by the Mace’ when they are named by the Speaker for serious contempt of their respective house. In practice and despite the phrase, it involves no actual swinging of the Mace nor infliction of physical pain towards the person receiving the disciplinary action. The Serjeant-at-Arms (or, in the case of the Dewan Bangsawan, the Mace Bearer) simply holds the mace in the air and points the crown towards the unruly member, and that member is simply said to have been ‘struck by the Mace’ (the Hansard records). The member then must leave the chamber for the entire day and may only come back 5 sitting days after on the first occasion, 25 days after on the second occasion or they may be indefinitely barred from the Parliamentary Estates on the third occasion.

Those who have been ‘struck by the Mace’ for three times are usually disqualified from sitting in Parliament until the next General Elections. For MPs, this means they will lose their seat and by-elections are called for their vacancy. For both hereditary and life peers of the Dewan Bangsawan, they must formally seek the Governor-General’s pardon.

List of individuals who have been struck by the Mace

Dewan Deputi

• Nadya Mohede, National Indies Party (once in 1932)
• Mochamad Amarno, Liberal Democratic Party (twice, in 1939 and 1940)
• Jordaan Kolijn, Liberal Democratic Party (once in 1941)
• Ignas Kuiper, National Indies Party (once in 1941)
• Arief Tjahaja de Snaijer, Social Democratic Party (twice, in 1941 and 1943)
• Eva Pangabean, Orange Banner League (once in 1946)
• Adesta Sikoetjing, Social Democratic Party (twice, in 1946 and 1949)
• Henri Badak, Liberal Democratic Party (thrice; in 1947, 1950 and 1955; lost his seat)
• Endah van Daal, National Indies Party (once in 1957)
• Roel Snijder, Liberal Democratic Party (twice, in 1958 and 1962)
• Putu Rahardjo, Liberal Democratic Party (once in 1963)
• Made Dian, National Indies Party (twice, in 1963 and 1965)
• Susilo van Drees, Orange Banner League (twice, in 1963 and 1968)
• Daud Setiawan, National Indies Party (once in 1969)
• Bulan Oetari, National Indies Party (twice, in 1969 and 1973)
• Melati Poernama, Liberal Democratic Party (once in 1972)
• Daniel Ekopoetra, Social Democratic Party (once in 1973)
• Christian Dominic Kahupa, National Indies Party (twice in 1975)
• Nirmala Zaynab, Social Democratic Party (once in 1975)
• Muhyiddin Siradjagoekgoek, Liberal Democratic Party (thrice; in 1976, 1977 and 1979; lost his seat)
• Jan Pietersz, National Indies Party (once in 1980)
• Agum Sjarifoeddin, Onward Hindia Belanda (once in 1980)
• Jusman Kartowidjojo, independent (once in 1981)
• Umar bin Hadji Usman, independent (thrice in 1981; lost his seat)
• Djoko Laksono, Liberal Democratic Party (twice; in 1983 and 1984)
• Cosmas Abílio Soares, Liberal Democratic Party (once in 1985)
• Mahyeldi Soekarwo, National Indies Party (once in 1987)
• Sinta Darmokoesoemo, independent (twice in 1989)
• Hendarman Kaban, Liberal Democratic Party (once in 1991)
• Agung Apriantana, National Indies Party (twice in 1992)
• Antje Moeljani, National Indies Party (once in 1993)
• Bram Tutuhatunewa, independent (twice; in 1993 and 1995)
• and so on and so forth

Dewan Bangsawan

• Raden Abu Bakar Kartosoekarjo, life peer (thrice in 1938; suspended from parliament and never sought pardon from the Governor-General)