Akbar seeks quick appointment for new police chief

Akbar seeks quick appointment for new police chief

Abu Hanifah, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The House of Representatives have begun to assess the nomination
of Comm. Gen. Da'i Bachtiar for National Police chief on Tuesday,
with House Speaker Akbar Tandjung calling on members to complete
the process before Nov. 30.

Despite Akbar's wishes, the nomination looks set to become a
contentious, and possibly time-consuming issue in the coming
weeks with two minority House factions already promising to
block, or slow down, the process.

President Megawati Soekarnoputri has put forward only one
candidate to replace the retiring Gen. Surojo Bimantoro as
National Police chief.

Bimantoro, whose own appointment last year was controversial
-- the House selection process was bypassed -- recently turned
55, the mandatory retirement age for police officers. Unless the
House endorses Da'i's nomination before the end of the month,
Megawati would likely have to extend Bimantoro's term by one more
year.

Da'i, 51, currently heads the anti-narcotics unit of the
National Police.

While apparently appealing for expediency, Akbar told
reporters after chairing the House's plenary session that he had
invited all factions to take an active part in the nomination
process.

But in his address to House members, it seemed clear what his
preference was, describing Da'i as someone who had been selected
by the President as one of the "nation's best sons."

The two largest factions in the House, Akbar's own Golkar and
the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) led
by Megawati have endorsed Da'i's nomination.

Together they account for 273 of the 500 seats in the House,
and a simple majority is needed.

Open opposition came from the National Awakening Party (PKB)
and the Crescent and Star Party (PBB), with 58 and 13 seats
respectively, while other factions have yet to state their
stance.

PKB had its own reason to oppose Da'i's nomination.

He was fired from his post as East Java police chief by then-
president Abdurrahman Wahid in July following a riot in Bondowoso
in which a PKB party supporter was shot by police.

PKB faction chairman Ali Masykur Musa said that Da'i had a
questionable track record and added that Megawati should submit
more than one candidate for the House to consider.

The PBB faction questioned Da'i's record during his service as
chief detective in the National Police headquarters, reminding
the legislators that he was in charge when the police lost a
major corruption case against defendants in the high profile Bank
Indonesia Liquidity Aid (BLBI) case involving over Rp 140
trillion. (about US$14 billion at the current exchange rate)

In the absence of any precedent to the process of nominating
the National Police chief, it remained unclear how significant
the PKB and PBB opposition would be.

The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) decree No.
VII/MPR/2000 states that the President appoints and replaces the
chiefs of the National Police and Indonesian Military with the
approval of the House.

Akbar said he would refer the nomination process to either
Commission I or Commission II of the House, or a combination of
the two.

Both commissions are tasked to supervise government policy
with regard to national security and police affairs.

Meanwhile, in other House business, the government's intention
to appoint ambassadors for Washington and Riyadh would be
discussed and Akbar said the legislators would give their input
on that matter.

He confirmed that the president had submitted letters on the
appointment of Soemadi D.M. Brotodiningrat to become the
Indonesian ambassador to the United States and Maftuh Basyuni who
is set to take the same post in Saudi Arabia.

"It is hoped that the House will give an opinion on the
appointment of the two ambassadors," Akbar said at the opening of
the House session here on Tuesday.

Soemadi currently serves as the Indonesian ambassador to
Japan, while Basyuni is the Indonesian ambassador to Kuwait.

Based on a recent amendment to the Constitution, the president
is obligated to consider the opinion of the House in the
appointment of ambassadors and envoys.