Six Comprehensive Points of the Indonesian National Police Reform Commission's Recommendations to Prabowo

The Commission for Accelerating Indonesian National Police Reform (KPRP) submitted recommendations to the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, on Tuesday (5/5). Based on a draft of the recommendations obtained by CNNIndonesia.com from KPRP member Yusril Ihza Mahendra, there are six points of recommendations presented to Prabowo. First, regarding the institutional position of the Indonesian National Police (Polri), which remains under the President of the Republic of Indonesia. “All KPRP members agree not to propose a new ministry, and the position of Polri remains as it currently stands,” states point number 1 of the recommendations. Second, the KPRP also recommends strengthening the National Police Commission of the Republic of Indonesia (Kompolnas RI). The KPRP states that strengthening Kompolnas aligns with Polri’s position under the President. The KPRP states that this must be balanced with strengthening the Kompolnas institution as an independent body to ensure that Polri carries out its main duties, functions, and authorities effectively and efficiently, in line with legal provisions. “Therefore, the Kompolnas institution must undergo fundamental improvements, including its position, membership composition, appointment mechanisms, duties and authorities, as well as budget management,” states point number 2. Yusril explained that Kompolnas can provide binding recommendations to Polri that must be implemented by the Police Chief. “It is our collective task to draft that, and it will then be submitted to the DPR as an amendment to the existing Police Law, specifically regarding Kompolnas and the placement of police in non-police duties,” said Yusril after meeting President Prabowo Subianto at Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Tuesday (5/5). Third, the KPRP also recommends that the mechanism for appointing the Police Chief remains the same as the current procedure involving the DPR. The KPRP states that the DPR’s oversight function and the sharing of responsibility between the President and the DPR in appointing the Police Chief are relevant reasons why the appointment mechanism must go through DPR approval. “All commission members provided balanced opinions because both sides have strong arguments considering the advantages and disadvantages,” states point number 3. Fourth, the recommendations also address the assignment of Polri members outside policing duties. The KPRP states that this relates to the issuance of Constitutional Court Decision Number 114/PUU-XXIII/2025 dated 13 November 2025 and Constitutional Court Decision Number 223/PUU-XXIII/2025 dated 19 January 2026, which have sparked public polemic and debate. The KPRP views that this impacts the legal and administrative position as well as the validity of decisions from officials falling under those MK decisions. “Therefore, there needs to be clarification and regulation that limitatively specifies in the Law or its derivative rules in Government Regulations which ministries/institutions can be occupied by Polri members for positions outside policing,” states point four. KPRP Chairman Jimly Asshiddiqie conveyed that the KPRP and Prabowo have decided that positions that can be held by Polri members outside the police structure will be regulated in detail. “It was decided by Mr President that it must be determined limitatively which positions, like in the TNI Law. So not like now with no limits. That must be included in the PP or in the law that will soon be completed by the responsible ministry,” said Jimly. He also mentioned that yesterday the revision of the Polri Law was already at the discussion stage in the DPR. However, it is now temporarily suspended to incorporate several KPRP recommendation points. In addition, Jimly mentioned that Perpres and Inpres will also be issued for Polri to undergo internal reforms. He said there are internal Polri regulations that need revision, numbering eight Police Regulations and 24 Police Chief Regulations, expected to be completed by 2029. Fifth, the KPRP also highlights institutional and managerial aspects. The KPRP recommends substantive matters regarding the implementation of Polri’s main duties and functions in line with the principles of good bureaucracy governance “good governance and clean government” as outlined in institutional and managerial aspects. The Institutional Aspect includes: structural, instrumental, and cultural fields, while the Managerial Aspect includes: Governance (in Development and Operational fields), Leadership System, Supervision, and Digital Transformation. Finally, the KPRP also recommends revising several laws and regulations to accommodate other recommendations. “There needs to be an immediate revision of Law Number 2 of 2002 on the Indonesian National Police, along with its derivatives in the form of Government Regulations or Presidential Regulations,” states recommendation number 6. In addition, the KPRP also recommends revisions to several internal Polri regulations in the form of 8 Police Regulations (Perpol) and 24 Police Chief Regulations (Perkap). These new laws and regulations are needed as a basis for implementing internal Polri reforms until 2029. “In addition, a Presidential Decree needs to be made mandating Polri to implement and follow up on KPRP recommendations through short-term, medium-term, and long-term stages,” continued the KPRP. At the same time, Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo stated his readiness to follow up on the KPRP recommendations. “Polri in principle will immediately follow up on the proposals that we feel will continue to make the Polri institution better,” said Listyo.