Academic proposes cultural transformation within Indonesian National Police

Associate Professor of Universitas Nasional (Unas) Firdaus Syam has proposed a cultural transformation within the Indonesian National Police (Polri) to strengthen the institutional changes already undertaken by the force. Firdaus stated that cultural change needs to be reinforced through police education and internal consolidation to address public concerns regarding Polri’s professionalism. “The question is, how do we change this culture? There are two ways: the education pathway and internal consolidation within the police,” Firdaus said during a book launch in Jakarta on Wednesday (24/6), according to a statement received on Thursday. He said the education pathway could be used to instil professional values in police cadets, including continuing the tradition developed by National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo. According to him, education must also shape Polri members who are humane, independent, and professional. Firdaus appreciated the transformation carried out by Polri under the leadership of General Listyo Sigit Prabowo. “We must acknowledge that the steps for change taken by Mr Listyo Sigit Prabowo have been numerous, such as at the structural and institutional levels, information technology-based programmes, as well as facilities and infrastructure,” he said. The book is divided into two parts, namely “Foundation and Vision” which reviews his career journey and the PRESISI transformation concept, and “Democratic Disruption and the Future Bhayangkara Corps”. The book discusses Listyo Sigit’s leadership as National Police Chief and offers an analytical framework regarding the role of the police institution in facing democratic disruption in the digital era.