The President\'s Choice for Polri Chief

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

The candidate for the chief of National Police, Comr. Gen. Idham Aziz, pays his respects to members of the House of Representatives shortly before being screened by members of Commission III at the Senayan legislative complex, Jakarta, Wednesday (30/10/2019). Idham was appointed as the sole candidate for the National Police chief by President Joko Widodo to replace Tito Karnavian. Tito resigned from the National Police after being appointed by President Jokowi as the home minister.

National Police chief Gen. (Pol.) Idham Azis will retire at the end of this month. However, who will be appointed to succeed him is as yet unknown.

The choice of the next chief of the National Police (Polri) is thought to be a political matter. The candidates for the country’s top police officer seem to have their own campaign teams. This can be seen from the large amount of "news" circulating in cyberspace that appear to be favoring certain candidates while exposing the weaknesses of others. One poster even said that the 2021 pick of the National Police chief was like a regional election. Speculation is rife.

Also read: Finding an Ideal National Police Chief

This development is clearly unhealthy for internally consolidating the nation’s police force. The competition between the candidates is palpable, and the ensuing tug-of-war has had an impact on the handling of several ongoing cases.

The National Police Commission has proposed five National Police chief candidates to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo: Deputy National Police chief Comr. Gen. Gatot Eddy Pramono, National Police Criminal Investigation department head Comr. Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo, National Police Security Maintenance Agency head Comr. Gen. Agus Andrianto, National Police Counterterrorism Agency head Comr. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar, and National Police Education and Training Institute head Comr. Gen. Arief Sulistyanto.

Also read: House Approves Idham as National Police Chief

As of Monday, 11 Jan., President Jokowi had not sent an official letter to state his nominee to the House of Representatives (DPR). This letter would end all speculation about the next National Police chief to replace Idham Azis. We hope that President Jokowi will soon submit his nominee for the National Police chief so the House can process it immediately.

Kompas/Riza Fathoni

Head of the National Police Criminal Investigation Agency Commissioner General Listyo Sigit Prabowo (center) together with the Head of the Public Relations Division of the National Police Inspector General Argo Yuwono (right) and the Head of Polda Metro Jaya Inspector General M Fadil Imran giving press statements regarding the crowd case in Petamburan, at Polda Metro Jaya Headquarters, Jakarta , 10 December 2020.

The President’s nominee for National Police chief is expected to answer the challenges of future crimes, consolidate the police force’s internal organization, which is now bloated with a large number of mid-level officers with the rank of senior commissioner, protect the public, respect human rights, and maintain a harmonious relationship with the Indonesian Military (TNI). The immediate challenge is to complete the task that has been right before our eyes, the fatal shooting on the Cikampek toll road, in light of the published recommendations of the National Commission on Human Rights

The new National Police chief is also expected to possess the ability to manage the Rp 121 trillion budget of the National Police, which could lead to disharmony with other institutions. The magnitude of the National Police budget, as well as the large number police officers who have held civilian positions at one point or another, could also create problems. With regard to public perception of the national police force, the next National Police chief must possess integrity and be clean, and must have the capacity to generate public trust.

Also read: Gen. Idham’s Swift Action

The successful National Police chief nominee must be committed to developing the police force as an institution that is capable of maintaining security and order, upholding the law, and

providing public protection and safety. The National Police Law stipulates that the appointment and dismissal of the National Police chief is under the authority of the President, with House approval. The legislature has 20 days to confirm a National Police chief nominee.

We hope that the next National Police chief can work to further consolidate the nation’s police force.

This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo.