Muhammadiyah Chairman Backs Police Remaining Under Presidential Authority
The Chairman of the Central Executive Board of Muhammadiyah, Haedar Nashir, has responded to the discourse around restructuring the Indonesian National Police (Polri) to fall under a ministry. Haedar argued that the positioning of both Polri and the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) directly under the president following the 1998 Reform era was the product of careful deliberation.
He noted that during that period, all state processes and institutions underwent transformation. Polri and TNI were placed directly under the president, and the two institutions were separated from one another.
Furthermore, Polri and TNI are critically important instruments of the state with distinct functions. Should problems arise, he said, it would be better to address them through internal institutional reform.
"If there are problems, it is better to examine conditions internally and fix what is inside, just as there are problems within the government bureaucracy as a whole," Haedar told reporters on Saturday (21 February 2026).
Haedar assessed that if every emerging problem triggers structural changes such as shifting the police's position, this would ultimately not resolve issues but rather create new ones. Moreover, ministries themselves are currently facing their own problems.
In simpler terms, he said placing Polri under a ministry would give rise to new problems, as no ministry is currently free of issues.
"Should we eliminate or merge ministries whenever they have problems, or constantly resort to structural changes whenever we encounter issues in public life? Enough is enough," Haedar said.
Muhammadiyah therefore recommended the implementation of good governance — within the police, the military, and the ministerial bureaucracy alike — as all institutions currently face challenges related to corruption prevention.
"I trust that President Prabowo Subianto, with his statesmanship and extraordinarily visionary outlook, is capable of resolving the problems that have arisen," Haedar said.
Furthermore, Muhammadiyah expressed hope that all institutions would continue to improve themselves in accordance with good governance principles. The less corruption the better, he said, and equally important is that all institutions serve the nation, state, and people in accordance with their respective mandates.
"We also hope that the Police Reform Team will carefully and wisely understand the issues comprehensively," Haedar added.
Finally, Haedar affirmed that Muhammadiyah would not comment on individuals or personnel holding positions in government institutions, including the top figure in the police force. He described such matters as the prerogative and discretion of the president.
"I am confident that President Prabowo holds views that are certainly broad-minded, thorough, and wise," he said.
Previously, National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo rejected the idea of placing Polri under a ministry. General Sigit argued that such a move would weaken both Polri itself and the President of the Republic of Indonesia.
General Sigit made this statement at the conclusion of a working meeting with House of Representatives Commission III at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Monday (26 January).
General Sigit initially expressed gratitude to the parliamentary factions that had declared their support for keeping Polri under the president. He emphasised that the House's oversight function over Polri must continue to be exercised.
"With all due respect, ladies and gentlemen, the Polri institution naturally rejects any proposal to place the police under a dedicated ministry, because for us the current position of Polri is the most ideal. We can truly function as an instrument of the state that genuinely serves the public," Sigit said.
General Sigit assessed that Polri's current position directly under the president greatly assists the head of state. He warned that placing Polri under a dedicated ministry would create the potential for "twin suns" — a dual centre of authority.
"On one hand, we can truly operate directly under the President, so that when the President needs us, we can move without having to go through a ministry... This creates the potential for 'twin suns', in my view," General Sigit said.
He noted that during that period, all state processes and institutions underwent transformation. Polri and TNI were placed directly under the president, and the two institutions were separated from one another.
Furthermore, Polri and TNI are critically important instruments of the state with distinct functions. Should problems arise, he said, it would be better to address them through internal institutional reform.
"If there are problems, it is better to examine conditions internally and fix what is inside, just as there are problems within the government bureaucracy as a whole," Haedar told reporters on Saturday (21 February 2026).
Haedar assessed that if every emerging problem triggers structural changes such as shifting the police's position, this would ultimately not resolve issues but rather create new ones. Moreover, ministries themselves are currently facing their own problems.
In simpler terms, he said placing Polri under a ministry would give rise to new problems, as no ministry is currently free of issues.
"Should we eliminate or merge ministries whenever they have problems, or constantly resort to structural changes whenever we encounter issues in public life? Enough is enough," Haedar said.
Muhammadiyah therefore recommended the implementation of good governance — within the police, the military, and the ministerial bureaucracy alike — as all institutions currently face challenges related to corruption prevention.
"I trust that President Prabowo Subianto, with his statesmanship and extraordinarily visionary outlook, is capable of resolving the problems that have arisen," Haedar said.
Furthermore, Muhammadiyah expressed hope that all institutions would continue to improve themselves in accordance with good governance principles. The less corruption the better, he said, and equally important is that all institutions serve the nation, state, and people in accordance with their respective mandates.
"We also hope that the Police Reform Team will carefully and wisely understand the issues comprehensively," Haedar added.
Finally, Haedar affirmed that Muhammadiyah would not comment on individuals or personnel holding positions in government institutions, including the top figure in the police force. He described such matters as the prerogative and discretion of the president.
"I am confident that President Prabowo holds views that are certainly broad-minded, thorough, and wise," he said.
Previously, National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo rejected the idea of placing Polri under a ministry. General Sigit argued that such a move would weaken both Polri itself and the President of the Republic of Indonesia.
General Sigit made this statement at the conclusion of a working meeting with House of Representatives Commission III at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Monday (26 January).
General Sigit initially expressed gratitude to the parliamentary factions that had declared their support for keeping Polri under the president. He emphasised that the House's oversight function over Polri must continue to be exercised.
"With all due respect, ladies and gentlemen, the Polri institution naturally rejects any proposal to place the police under a dedicated ministry, because for us the current position of Polri is the most ideal. We can truly function as an instrument of the state that genuinely serves the public," Sigit said.
General Sigit assessed that Polri's current position directly under the president greatly assists the head of state. He warned that placing Polri under a dedicated ministry would create the potential for "twin suns" — a dual centre of authority.
"On one hand, we can truly operate directly under the President, so that when the President needs us, we can move without having to go through a ministry... This creates the potential for 'twin suns', in my view," General Sigit said.