JAKARTA: Indonesians could be jailed for criticising national politicians under a new law which came into force yesterday, in what critics slammed as a major step back for the world’s third-biggest democracy, reports AFP. The vaguely worded bill passed the 560-member house last month but has just become official, over the objections of President Joko Widodo who refused to sign off on the controversial legislation.

Widodo does not have veto power over the bill, although it can be challenged at the Constitutional Court. The so-called MD3 law opens to the door to pressing charges against anyone who “disrespects parliament or its members” but does not set out possible minimum or maximum jail terms.