Police Bill: Government Proposes Active Officers May Serve in BGN and BPOM

The government has proposed that active police officers may continue to serve and fill managerial positions in a number of government institutions outside the police force, including in matters relating to national nutrition and drug supervision. The proposal is contained within the problem inventory list (DIM) of the Police Bill, which is to be formally discussed between the House of Representatives (DPR) and the government. The provision is set out in Article 28. In the DIM submitted to the DPR, the government proposes abolishing the old norm regarding the institutions where active police officers can serve. As a replacement, the government proposes that police officers may still hold positions outside the police institution as long as they relate to the fields of security and public order (kamtibmas), law enforcement, and the protection, shelter and service of the community. The provision is contained in Article 28A paragraph 2, which states, “Positions outside the organisation of the National Police of the Republic of Indonesia that have a link to the Police function as referred to in paragraph (1) are managerial or non-managerial positions in ministries/institutions that administer governmental affairs or duties in the fields of: a. maintenance of security, public order and community maintenance; b. law enforcement; and c. protection, shelter, and service to the community.” In the explanatory section of the DIM for the Police Bill, the government specifies that the intended protection, shelter, and community service refers to police duties and authority in three areas. These are, respectively, governmental affairs in the field of witness and victim protection, governmental affairs in the field of food and drug supervision, and governmental affairs in the field of fulfilling national nutrition and food. Currently, the affairs of national nutrition fulfilment and food and drug supervision are managed by BGN and BPOM. “What is meant by ‘protection, shelter, and community service’ is identified by the linkage of institutional duties, functions, and authority related to protection, shelter, and community service, including in: a. governmental affairs in the field of witness and victim protection; b. governmental affairs in the field of food and drug supervision; and c. governmental affairs in the field of fulfilling national nutrition and food,” reads Article 28 paragraph 2 letter c. The proposal in the DIM of the Police Bill was originally scheduled to be discussed on Thursday (4/6), but was postponed and will be continued next week.