Police Reform Committee Submits Report to Prabowo Ahead of Eid al-Fitr

Police Reform Committee Submits Report to Prabowo Ahead of Eid al-Fitr

The head of the Police Reform Acceleration Committee (KPRP), Jimly Asshidiqie, said his panel has completed a report to be submitted to President Prabowo Subianto. Jimly said he is still awaiting the right time to brief the President. ‘Hopefully, before Eid, it will be arranged by the State Secretary and Cabinet Secretariat; hopefully before Eid,’ Prabowo said at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Thursday in the early hours (5 March).

He said the recommendations could potentially amend the Police Act and would require revisions to several internal regulations within the Bhayangkara Corps. ‘And the need to revise internal regulations as well. About eight Perpol (Police Regulations) and 24 Perkap (Regulations of the Chief of Police) would need revising so that this can act as a framework for ongoing internal reform in the long term,’ he added.

In addition, Jimly said he had included points regarding the position of Polri under the Ministry, which had previously emerged publicly. ‘The points will be included; then we will report them. So we can’t disclose yet. We will report to the president, and there are several items that we will need him to decide,’ he said.

However, he declined to discuss details. He indicated there are several alternatives with their consequences that will be reported to Prabowo first. He said one area of focus is whether the appointment of the Chief of Police still requires DPR approval. ‘The misunderstanding actually comes from the phrase “under.” Do not use the phrase “under.” All institutions are under the President. All. If the TNI is under the President as well, as the Commander-in-Chief. But the Ministry of Defence, well, that is coordination. Subordination, coordination, you see. So don’t say ’under the minister’—no, not under the minister,’ he said.

Additionally, Jimly signalled a recommendation on the tenure of the Chief of Police. He said the provision would be included in the KPRP’s recommendations to be submitted to Prabowo. ‘Yes, there will be; surely there will be a limit; it is not possible for life tenure. But this will be regulated first by law,’ he said.