Jakarta Police to use GPS in patrol cars: Makbul
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
City Police Chief Insp. Gen. Makbul Padmanagara revealed on Thursday that the police would set up a new patrolling infrastructure using a Global Positioning System, which should enable them to monitor the position of every patrol car.
"We expect to start operating the new system next month," said the two-star police general at The Jakarta Post editorial office on Thursday.
He pointed out that the police had equipped some 500 vehicles with around 3,000 police personnel to cover Jakarta, Tangerang, Bekasi and Depok.
He added that the city administration had promised to provide Rp 7.5 billion to help support the project. Some 300 cars, thus far, are ready, after the administration allocated public funds.
Makbul said the plan was realized amid mounting public concern over police performance. "We admit that our performance has fallen short of the public expectation that police officers are supposed to be present and available anywhere and anytime needed so that society will feel safe," he said.
He blamed a significant gap in ratio between police personnel and Jakarta residents as one of the problems.
Ideally, Makbul said, one officer covers 400 people, but in practice here, the total of 21,000 staff members of the Jakarta police office had to handle 18 million residents -- a 1 to 900 ratio -- in Jakarta, Bogor, Tangerang, Depok and Bekasi. Meanwhile, data from the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) in 2000, shows the total residents of Jakarta, Bogor, Tangerang, Depok, and Bekasi areas are only 12.7 million.
But he said that not all of the 21,000 police personnel could be tasked to secure the city as thousands of them were civilian staff.
Through the sophisticated technology and infrastructure in patrolling, Makbul said, police expected the areas of operation for criminals would be greatly limited and the city should be safer.
Makbul has been at his post since late last year after replacing Comr. Gen. Sofjan Jacoeb who led the Jakarta Police for about seven months. Sofjan is now a senior instructor at the National Resilience Institute (Lemhanas). Makbul was previously the Jakarta police deputy chief.
Amid massive numbers of demonstrations and rallies in the capital, Makbul said that such demonstrations should not turn violent if the police handle them with care.
"Instead of seeing the rallies as a threat, we hope massive numbers of demonstrations here can be one of tourist attractions," he joked, promising that police would not impose repressive policies on the demonstrators.
He revealed that in many cases, many demonstrators failed to inform their the police of their action in reference to the law. According to the law enacted on Oct. 26, 1998 art. No.9 in the tenure of President B.J. Habibie, people wishing to launch a protest should submit a letter first to the police three days before the planned protest.
"But, as we've promised to serve them, we will approach them with open communication as we are all in the learning process toward more democratic society," he said.
Stern action, however, would certainly be imposed by the police should the demonstrators turn violent, he asserted.
Makbul said, police would also prioritize drug-related offenses, white collar crimes, corruption and street crimes.
"We will vow to wage war especially against drug abuse on April, 28 in Monas (National Monument)," he said.
He mentioned all public concerns except the terrorism threat.
He brushed aside allegations that terrorism might threaten the capital, claiming that his personnel thus far could ensure the security and order in the capital.
However, Makbul admitted that police had to cope with any terrorist threats using existing legal grounds as the law on antiterrorism was still in the process of being drafted.
Contrary to his claim of Jakarta's security, an international meeting in preparation for the World Summit, which was previously scheduled for Jakarta, has been moved to Bali citing to security concerns. The meeting will be held next month.