Reasons for Not Proposing Polri Under a Ministry: Risk of Politicisation

The Commission for Accelerating Police Reform (KPRP) has revealed that the reason they did not propose placing the Indonesian National Police (Polri) under a ministry is due to the risk of politicisation.

KPRP member Mahfud MD stated that if Polri were placed under a ministry, it would be vulnerable to politicisation, which is why the KPRP recommends that Polri remain under the President.

“Politically, it is safer because if placed under a ministry, ministers in our political system are occupied by party members, so it would end up being politicised again. It’s better directly under the President,” he said.

Furthermore, the former Minister of Political, Legal, and Security Affairs added that the KPRP recommends that limitations on positions that Polri members can hold outside the police institution be regulated in a limited manner.

The basis for regulating these position limitations, he said, will later be addressed through regulations because it concerns the needs of civil servants (ASN).

“Basically, it must be limited, whether in the form of a Presidential Regulation (Perpres) or a law,” he stated.

Previously, President Prabowo Subianto received the final report and recommendations from the Commission for Accelerating Police Reform, handed over by Chairman Jimly Asshiddiqie at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday, 5 May 2026.

The President received several books, including one titled “Jembatan Aspirasi untuk Reformasi Polri” (Bridge of Aspirations for Polri Reform) and “Tindak Lanjut Rekomendasi” (Follow-up on Recommendations).

Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections, who is also a KPRP member, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, conveyed that the compiled report varies in thickness, from thousands of pages to a short summary.

Its contents consist of various proposals and recommendations from the Commission for Accelerating Police Reform to improve the police institution.

Yusril emphasised that the submitted recommendations are substantial and have the potential to bring major changes to the police institutional system. In fact, several proposals are considered capable of impacting revisions to the current Police Law.

“If approved, there will be implications for changes to the existing Polri law,” Yusril stated.