Observer: Police Reform Should Not Become an 'Empty Cheque' Without Oversight

Police observer and former National Police Commission (Kompolnas) commissioner Poengky Indarti has expressed appreciation for the recommendations submitted by the Police Reform Acceleration Commission (KPRP) to President Prabowo Subianto. The recommendations cover several key points, from the position of the Indonesian National Police (Polri) remaining under the president, strengthening Kompolnas, to regulating Polri members holding positions outside the police institution. Poengky assesses that the recommendations compiled by KPRP are sufficiently substantive, as the suggested points were formulated after absorbing public aspirations from various regions in Indonesia. “I appreciate and welcome the recommendations presented by the Police Reform Acceleration Commission,” Poengky stated on Wednesday (6/5/2026). Nevertheless, she reminds that the most important aspect is the implementation of these recommendations and their oversight. The public awaits a better police institution in serving society. “So that the KPRP recommendations do not become an ‘empty cheque’ given to Polri and carried out without adequate oversight,” she said. According to Poengky, police reform must not repeat the weaknesses of previous reforms, which were deemed not to have proceeded as the public had hoped. As is known, in the historical record of the institution, significant restructuring occurred following the collapse of the New Order and the birth of the Reformasi era in 1998. “We must not repeat the mistakes of Police Reform volume I, which paid insufficient attention to the continuity of Police Reform, so that Police Reform did not proceed as society had hoped, especially the cultural reform of Polri. As a result, we still see Polri members committing excessive violence, engaging in corrupt acts, and living lavishly,” she explained. Poengky hopes that oversight of the implementation of Police Reform volume II can run optimally through the involvement of various parties. “The entire society, including the media, can oversee Polri well so that the KPRP recommendations can be realised,” she emphasised. Previously, the Police Reform Acceleration Commission met with President Prabowo Subianto at Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Tuesday (5/5/2026). On that occasion, KPRP conveyed six recommendations from the commission’s work, which are planned to be established through a presidential instruction (inpres) or presidential decision (kepres) for gradual implementation by Polri ranks. KPRP was established by President Prabowo Subianto on 7 November 2025 as a non-structural body with a mandate to accelerate institutional reform, enhance professionalism, and improve Polri’s governance. Its structure consists of Prof Jimly Asshiddiqie as chairman, with members including Prof Mahfud MD, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, Supratman Andi Agtas, Otto Hasibuan, Ahmad Dofiri, Idham Azis, and Badrodin Haiti.