The first 100 days of Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo’s tenure as the new National Police chief will greatly affect the public’s belief: whether his leadership can improve the police force.
By
Kompas Team
·4 minutes read
JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The first 100 days of Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo’s tenure as the new National Police chief will greatly affect the public’s belief: whether his leadership can improve the police force. Hence, it is important for Listyo to immediately formulate concrete steps to revamp the National Police, particularly in regard to law enforcement and public service.
President Joko Widodo officiated Listyo as the new National Police chief on Wednesday (27/1/2021) at the State Palace, Jakarta, replacing Gen. Idham Azis, who has retired. Listyo’s appointment is stipulated in Presidential Decree No. 5/2021, as well as the honorable dismissal of Idham from the police’s top post.
According to Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) chairwoman Asfinawati, the public hopes Listyo introduces concrete steps to fulfill public expectation, both in terms of improving public service or law enforcement, within his first 100 days as the new police chief. Among concrete steps that he may take is to prove the police force’s neutrality and indiscriminate actions in enforcing the law.
“If he could do that, public trust in the National Police will grow by itself. We are not talking about his ability here, but rather his willingness,” said Asfinawati.
We once collected data from 2012 to 2019, including that from the Indonesian Ombudsman, and the police has always been among the three institutions most reported by the people.
Restoring public trust in the National Police is particularly urgent as it has been consistently classified among the top three institutions most reported by the public. “We once collected data from 2012 to 2019, including that from the Indonesian Ombudsman, and the police has always been among the three institutions most reported by the people,” said Asfinawati.
Previously, Listyo asserted that he had prepared a number of programs that would be immediately implemented within the first 100 days of his tenure. These programs include concluding investigations into several high-profile cases, transforming the function of subprecinct police (Polsek) to no longer participating in law enforcement and improving public service.
According to People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) speaker Bambang Soesatyo, one of the most important things that have to be immediately realized is turning Polsek into a hub for dispute settlement based on the principle of restorative justice. By doing this, not all legal cases must be followed up the courts.
It could also prevent moral hazard for the police.
“As long as the victims and the perpetrators get justice, settling legal cases outside the court will be a major breakthrough for the police. It could also prevent moral hazard for the police. On the other hand, this could also send Polsek to the forefront in creating public safety and order,” said Bambang.
Meanwhile, Jazuli Juwaini, head of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) faction at the House of Representatives, said Listyo’s promise of just law could only materialize if law enforcement was carried out consistently and remained impartial toward the interests of power.
National Police transformation
Upon his appointment, Listyo affirmed his commitment to fulfilling public expectations for the police. He will attempt to transform the image of the police as a firm institution that is still humanist.
“Presenting the National Police as an institution that is capable of providing good public service, transparency and just law enforcement, this will be our task in the future,” said Listyo. To do this, he will revamp the police force through 16 action plans.
These action plans were presented by Listyo during his confirmation hearing presided by House Commission III on Jan. 20 (Kompas, 21/1/2021). The action plans will be implemented in three stages. The first stage will take place within Listyo’s first 100 days as the new police chief, followed by the second stage from 2021-2022 and the third stage from 2023-2024.
During the handover ceremony at the National Police headquarters, Idham expressed his confidence that Listyo’s competence would change the National Police for the better.