Otto: Police Reform Must Ensure Sustainable Change

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections Otto Hasibuan has said the main challenge in police reform is ensuring that the values of change can be applied sustainably within the life of the organisation.

During an audience with the Student Executive Board of the Faculty of Law at Diponegoro University (BEM FH Undip) in Jakarta on Monday (10/8), he said police reform is not only related to regulatory aspects or institutional structures, but also involves cultural change that requires consistency and time.

“How can this culture be upheld and implemented consistently, continuously,” said Otto, as confirmed in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Accordingly, Otto said the government welcomes various inputs and views from students.

He acknowledged that cultural reform within the police force is a more complex process than structural change because it requires commitment and continuous implementation.

The deputy coordinating minister expressed appreciation for the students’ attention to legal issues and reform of the police institution.

He assessed that input from students is an important part of the process of evaluating and improving public policy.

“Running a state is not easy. When I was an advocate, I had the same voice as you. This is also what I conveyed to the Polri reform team,” he said.

Otto said he will continue to strive so that the input provided can bring about change and it is hoped that the police can implement it wisely and prudently.

As a follow-up, the various inputs submitted by BEM FH Undip will be coordinated with relevant ministries and agencies.

The input will be taken into consideration in future discussions on police reform policy.

The audience discussed the students’ study on reform of the Indonesian National Police (Polri), including discussion of Law Number 5 of 2026 on the Police.

Chairman of BEM FH Undip Ilman Nurfathan and his team conveyed a number of views on the direction of police reform.

In the audience, BEM FH Undip highlighted the formation of Law Number 5 of 2026 as well as a number of aspects deemed to require attention in the implementation of Polri reform.

One of the issues raised concerned a paradigm shift in the execution of police duties.

BEM FH Undip conveyed its view on the tendency of Polri’s approach to shift from a preventive paradigm towards an increasingly repressive approach.

In addition, the students also highlighted the importance of maintaining civilian supremacy and ensuring that the regeneration process within Polri proceeds in accordance with the principles of democracy and the rule of law.