KSPSI: Police Must Remain Under Presidential Authority as Mandated by Reformasi
The Confederation of All Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPSI), the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI), and the Confederation of All Indonesian Labour Unions (KSBSI) attended a public hearing with House of Representatives Commission III. During the hearing, KSPSI chairman Andi Gani Nena Wea affirmed that the National Police’s position directly under the President is a mandate of the Reformasi era.
The hearing took place in the Commission III meeting room at the Nusantara I building, Senayan, Jakarta, on Wednesday (18 February 2026). On the occasion, Andi Gani expressed his concern that certain parties were attempting to corner the police force.
“This is our concern, because we see Polri being cornered by several elements. As a major element ourselves, Mr Habiburokhman [Commission III chairman], we do not claim to speak on behalf of the people, but the fact is we have a base of millions. Yet we have never used our millions of members to apply pressure — we have never done that. However, several days ago we held an Indonesian labour pledge at the Proclamation Monument, attended by the three largest labour confederations,” Andi Gani said.
Andi Gani then stated that the police force must remain under the President. According to him, Polri’s current position is a mandate of Reformasi.
“Polri must remain under the President because that is a Reformasi mandate that cannot be overridden by a small group of people. I dare to state this because — on whose behalf do these groups claim to speak? We, who have a membership base of millions, do not even dare to claim we speak on behalf of the people. We only dare to speak on behalf of our own members,” he asserted.
On that basis, Andi Gani called on Commission III to continue safeguarding Polri’s institutional position. He also urged President Prabowo Subianto not to succumb to pressure from various parties on the matter.
“That is why I ask Mr Habiburokhman, who is close to the President, to convey: ‘Mr President, do not be pressured. Rest assured that the labour movement stands with President Prabowo Subianto,’” he said.
Andi Gani then explained why the labour movement supports keeping Polri under the President, highlighting the police force’s contributions to the labour cause.
“Why do we support Polri remaining under the President? Because for the first time in the world, Polri established an employment desk. This does not exist in any other country. It was Police Chief Listyo Sigit who initiated the employment desk, which successfully resolved 144 labour cases in Indonesia, with nearly 70 per cent through restorative justice,” he said.
Furthermore, Andi Gani also urged that the fit and proper test for the National Police chief candidate should remain under Commission III’s purview. “The fit and proper test for the police chief candidate must remain with Commission III because it represents checks and balances between the legislature and the executive,” he added.