Coordinating Minister Yusril Discusses the Crucial Role of Polri in Building a Rule-of-Law State

Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, spoke about the crucial role of the Indonesian National Police (Polri) in successfully implementing President Prabowo Subianto’s Asta Cita. Yusril stated that Polri serves as the vanguard in legal matters.

This was conveyed by Yusril at the National Coordination Meeting of Polri’s Legal Division (Divkum) at the Mercure Hotel in Ancol, North Jakarta, on Tuesday (16/4/2026). He initially noted that Polri stands at the intersection of government functions, public services, and law enforcement.

According to him, Polri is tasked with maintaining social order, ensuring a sense of security, and protecting citizens’ rights. Additionally, he said, Polri plays a role in the criminal justice system.

“Synchronisation with Asta Cita must be carried out comprehensively. It is not merely about securing government programmes, but ensuring that Polri moves in line with the strategy for developing a rule-of-law state,” said Yusril.

Yusril stated that Polri holds the key to the effectiveness of the law. He said that Polri’s Legal Division must become the heart of institutional improvement.

“The Legal Division is the conceptual kitchen that determines whether major changes in the national criminal law will truly be internalised into regulations, procedures, education, legal aid, and Polri’s institutional practices,” said Yusril.

“The fundamental nature of Polri according to the 1945 Constitution is as a servant of the rule-of-law state, not merely a tool to impose the state’s will,” he added.

Yusril mentioned that the national criminal law reform is a cross-institutional agenda. According to him, Polri, as a key partner, is expected to translate these policies into orderly, fair, and humane practices.

“Polri, as the main gateway to the criminal justice system, is capable of understanding and implementing the spirit of the new law,” he said.

Yusril also emphasised that Polri’s reform is a directive from President Prabowo Subianto. He noted that a nation’s strength depends on the firmness of the law and justice.

“The President stated, ‘I always emphasise that a nation’s success lies in its ability to enforce the rule of law. There must be legal certainty that gives birth to justice.’ This shows the importance of Polri’s reform, which must ultimately lead to strengthening the rule-of-law state, not just organisational restructuring,” Yusril concluded.