Mahfud Reveals Reasons Why Polri Will Not Be Changed into a Security Ministry

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Former Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law, and Human Rights, Mahfud MD, has revealed the reasons why the Commission for Accelerating Police Reform (KPRP) did not propose the establishment of a Security Ministry to President Prabowo Subianto. Mahfud stated that from the outset, the commission also did not recommend placing Polri under a ministry. “In its conclusion, we did not include that as a proposal because we consider Polri reporting directly to the President as politically appropriate,” said Mahfud during a press conference in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, on Wednesday (6/5/2026). Moreover, placing Polri under a ministry would risk politicisation, as ministerial positions in Indonesia’s political system are generally filled by party representatives. “So it would end up being politicised again; it’s better for it to report directly to the President,” Mahfud added. Previously reported, the Commission for Accelerating Police Reform recommended that the position of the Indonesian National Police (Polri) remain under the president. “Regarding the position of Polri, it remains as it is now, with Polri directly under the president,” said Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra after the commission’s meeting with President Prabowo Subianto at the Presidential Palace Complex in Jakarta on Tuesday (5/5/2026) afternoon. “No Security Ministry or Police Ministry will be formed, nor will the police be placed under an existing ministry; Polri remains directly under the president,” he stated. Yusril also conveyed that Prabowo decided to maintain the appointment of the National Police Chief through the approval of the House of Representatives (DPR), as currently practised. This decision was made by Prabowo after being presented with two alternatives by the Commission for Accelerating Police Reform: direct appointment by the president or through DPR approval. “Whether the appointment of the National Police Chief is done directly by the president, or the president proposes one or two or more names to the DPR for approval before appointing them—there were two opinions,” said Yusril. “The President has chosen to continue following the current practice,” he added.