Prabowo Rejects the Establishment of a Polri Ministry

President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, has agreed that the Chief of the Indonesian National Police (Kapolri) will remain directly under the President. Following a meeting with Prabowo, the Commission for Accelerating Polri Reform stated that Prabowo does not agree with the formation of a Ministry of Security or a Ministry of Polri, rumours of which had recently surfaced. “Another important matter is regarding the position of Polri, which will remain as it is now. Polri is directly under the President, and no Ministry of Security or Ministry of Police will be established, nor will the police be placed under an existing ministry,” said member of the Commission for Accelerating Polri Reform, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday (5/5). Furthermore, Yusril mentioned that Prabowo also agreed that the process of appointing the Kapolri will still require DPR approval. “That is, he will propose the candidate for Kapolri to the DPR for approval, and only then will he appoint the proposed candidate as Kapolri,” he said. The issue of restructuring Polri under a ministry had emerged some time ago. Kapolri General Listyo Sigit Prabowo firmly rejected the proposal. Listyo repeatedly expressed his firm stance against the idea of the institution he leads being placed under a ministry or becoming a special ministry. He emphasised that Polri’s position under the President is ideal for serving as a state instrument that provides services to the public.