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.