Otto: Regulatory Renewal Must Be Accompanied by a Paradigm Shift in Law Enforcement
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections (Wamenko Kumham Imipas) Otto Hasibuan believes that legal regulatory renewal must be accompanied by a paradigm shift in law enforcement.
“The success of legal renewal is not only determined by changes in regulations, but also by the perspective of the apparatus in carrying out their authority,” said Wamenko Otto when contacted in Jakarta on Wednesday.
He stated that law enforcement officials have a strategic role in ensuring that the law is not only enforced normatively, but also able to provide a sense of justice for society.
According to him, when attending the 2026 Police High Staff and Leadership School Education (Sespimti) in Jakarta on Friday (8/5), law enforcement officials must prioritise justice, usefulness, and respect for human rights in every execution of their duties.
Otto emphasised that the enactment of the new Criminal Code (KUHP) and Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) is not merely replacing the text of the law, but also brings a paradigm shift in the national criminal justice system.
He explained that the renewal of the national criminal law is part of the major reform of Indonesia’s legal system, adapted to societal developments and principles of human rights.
The Deputy Minister explained that the punishment paradigm, which has so far been oriented solely towards punishment, has caused various problems, including overcrowding in correctional institutions and increasing the state’s burden in the punishment system.
He also outlined the mission of Indonesia’s criminal law renewal, which includes decolonisation, democratisation, consolidation, and harmonisation of national law with global developments.
He stressed that modern law enforcement must be able to maintain a balance between crime control and due process of law, so that human rights protection remains the main principle in police duties.
Several recommendations
Otto, who is also a member of the National Police Reform Acceleration Commission (KPRP), also conveyed several strategic recommendations to strengthen the police institution.
He said that the KPRP has submitted a report to President Prabowo Subianto on 5 May 2026.
The report contains six main recommendations, namely maintaining the position of the Indonesian National Police (Polri) under the president, strengthening the National Police Commission (Kompolnas) as an independent external supervisor, and improving the mechanism for appointing the National Police Chief.
Then, regulating the placement of Polri members outside police institutions, reforming the institutional and managerial governance of Polri, and revising the Polri Law to realise a professional, transparent, and accountable institution.
Through this activity, it is hoped that Sespimti Polri participants can strengthen the legal and human rights perspective in carrying out police duties, thus creating professional, fair law enforcement oriented towards public interests.