The newly appointed State Intelligence Agency chief Gen. (ret) Sutanto said he would add a new post for a deputy for economic affairs in an attempt to prevent any economic disasters that could potentially threaten Indonesia’s sovereignty.
“Besides the existing fields such as in matters of security and defense, we are also obliged to prevent economic catastrophes from occurring. In future, we will closely monitor places such as the stock exchange and industry centers,” Sutanto told journalists on Monday after attending a working meeting with lawmakers from House Commission I for intelligence and defense.
This has been Sutanto’s first public appearance as the new chief of the State Intelligence Agency. The last time he had appeared before the public was as the National Police chief. Sutanto began his career in the police force, joining the elite corps, also known as the Mobile Brigade (Brimob).
However, when asked about the recent conflict involving the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the police, Sutanto did not provide a clear answer. He only said, “Everyone should be held responsible in building a more constructive situation for all of us - and that includes the media,” he said.
Commenting on this, Ahmad Muzani, a lawmaker from the Great Indonesia Movement Party, who also attended the meeting, acknowledged that what Sutanto had said before the lawmakers was in fact fairly normative.
One of the concepts offered by Sutanto was the importance of developing the public image of the intelligence agency, he said.
“He presented us with the concept of ‘smart intelligence’, which he said would allow intelligence officers to have friendlier-than-ever faces without abandoning their duties as agents,” Ahmad said.
“He did offer us a new perspective, for example on how to handle intelligence in the future and what fields should be added to the list. But he did not come with real programs or proposals. So, we still need further meetings to adjust our perspective,” he said.
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