General Listyo Sigit Responds to Presidential Letter Rumours on Police Chief Replacement

JAKARTA – National Police Chief (Kapolri) General Listyo Sigit Prabowo has responded to rumours of a presidential letter (surpres) concerning his replacement from the post of police chief. Sigit said the decision to replace the leader of the Bhayangkara Corps is the prerogative, or special right, of President Prabowo Subianto.

General Listyo Sigit accordingly left the replacement decision to the President. “That is the President’s prerogative. So for us soldiers, whatever it is, we carry it out. We simply wait,” he said in Jakarta on Wednesday (5/8/2026).

He also assured that the surpres rumours have not disrupted the performance of the Indonesian National Police (Polri). “Absolutely not (disrupting performance, Ed),” he said.

On Tuesday (4/8/2026), Chairman of Commission III of the House of Representatives (DPR RI), Habiburokhman, denied the rumours of a presidential letter concerning the replacement of National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo. “It is not true that there is a presidential letter regarding the replacement of the police chief,” Habiburokhman said in his official statement.

The legislator overseeing law enforcement urged the public not to be influenced by untrue rumours that lack a clear basis.

Echoing Habiburokhman, Deputy Chairman of Commission III of the DPR RI, Ahmad Sahroni, also said there was no presidential letter regarding the replacement of the National Police Chief. He said he was unaware of any such letter.

“There is none on our side, there has been none at all,” Sahroni said.

Nevertheless, Sahroni said General Sigit has performed well as police chief over the past five years. He therefore judged that there was no urgency to replace the leadership of the police force.

“He has worked extraordinarily well, even if there have been shortcomings, which is only natural. I am confident the President will retain Mr Sigit because his performance is quite good,” Sahroni said.