MP Urges Police to Conduct Consistent Urine Tests for Officers, Not Mere Gimmicks

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Member of Commission III of the House of Representatives Hasbiallah Ilyas has urged the Indonesian National Police (Polri) to consistently enforce urine testing among its personnel to detect drug abuse, insisting the measure must not be treated as a mere gimmick.

According to him, the initiative must be genuinely underpinned by a commitment to safeguarding the dignity and integrity of the police institution. He stated that the public would have no one left to trust if law enforcement officers were found to be involved in illicit practices.

“Urine tests must not merely serve as a symbol or image-building exercise. This must form part of a genuine commitment to cleaning up the institution from within,” Hasbiallah said in a statement in Jakarta on Tuesday.

He expressed his support for the firm measures taken by the Polri leadership in implementing urine tests for its members, emphasising that implementation on the ground must be transparent and accompanied by strict oversight.

Furthermore, he demanded that sanctions against officers found to be involved must be applied without discrimination.

“Law enforcement must be firm, open, and uncompromising. This is essential for restoring and maintaining public trust in the Polri institution,” he said.

Previously, the Polri Professional and Security Division (Divpropam) implemented simultaneous urine testing across police personnel following ongoing cases of drug abuse by rogue officers.

In carrying out the tests, Polri stated it would involve both internal and external oversight functions.

Results thus far show that three personnel in the Riau Regional Police tested positive for narcotics and illegal drugs based on the simultaneous urine tests conducted across the regional and district police commands on Monday (23 February). The three officers will be subject to further investigation by the police’s internal affairs division.