Mahfud MD: Militaristic Approach is Unsuitable for the National Police

Jakarta - Former Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law, and Human Rights and member of the National Police Reform Acceleration Commission (KPRP), Mahfud MD, assessed that a militaristic paradigm is unsuitable for implementation within the National Police (Polri).

“Is the military style wrong or not? No, but it is not suitable for Polri,” said Mahfud during a press conference in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, on Thursday (7/6/2026).

“(Militaristic) is not bad. It is just not suitable for Polri, whose duties include nurturing, serving, protecting, and so on,” he explained.

He also reminded that the militaristic paradigm should not always be viewed negatively.

The issue is not about right or wrong, but about functional suitability.

Therefore, the police do not need to imitate the military style, just as other professions cannot replace each other’s roles.

“Just read about state administration science; it must be repressive, upright, disciplined, and obedient to superiors’ orders,” he stated.

In this paradigm, the police are expected to be figures close to the community, acting democratically, transparently, and building friendly relationships.

He likened the police to protagonist figures who serve as public references and are liked, not antagonists who are avoided.

“In addition, behaviour. There are many behaviours; earlier, not militaristic, not hedonistic, not extorting, not protecting gambling, don’t do all those bad things like flexing and so on,” he said.