Reform Team Reveals Reasons for Dropping Proposal to Place Polri Under Ministry

The Commission for Accelerating Police Reform (KPRP) has revealed the reasons behind its decision to abandon the proposal to place the Indonesian National Police (Polri) under a ministry when submitting its study recommendations to President Prabowo Subianto on Tuesday (5/5).

Commission member Mahfud MD acknowledged that the idea had sparked heated internal discussions within the Commission. However, the group agreed to drop the proposal during their meeting with the President.

“The Reform Commission debated it at length, the public also provided input, then it was discussed, and in the end, we did not include it as a proposal,” Mahfud said during a press conference in the Dharmawangsa area of Jakarta on Wednesday (6/5).

Mahfud reasoned that placing Polri directly under the President was seen as too politically charged. The commission views the current position of Polri under the President as a product of past reforms and considers it ideal.

“Because we consider Polri reporting directly to the President as politically, firstly, it is a product of the previous reform that was already discussed so we don’t go back and forth again,” he said.

Following the meeting with the President, the Reform Commission previously revealed that the proposal to place Polri under a ministry was also rejected by the President.

Commission member and Coordinating Minister for Law and Human Rights Imipas, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, emphasised that the President rejected the idea of establishing a security ministry or a police ministry.

“Another important point is that regarding the position of Polri, it remains as it is now. Polri is directly under the President, and no security ministry or police ministry will be formed, nor will the police be placed under an existing ministry,” Yusril stated.

In total, there are six points of recommendations in the Polri reform proposed by the Commission.

Besides affirming Polri’s position under the President, the other points include strengthening Kompolnas, the appointment of the National Police Chief, Polri’s assignments in civilian institutions, strengthening managerial and institutional aspects, and revisions to several internal Polri regulations in the form of 8 Police Regulations (Perpol) and 24 Chief of Police Regulations (Perkap).