Sutanto interview open to public

Sutanto interview open to public

JAKARTA: The screening process for Brig. Gen. Sutanto, the sole candidate for the post of National Police chief -- which is scheduled for Monday at the House of Representatives, will be open to the public, a lawmaker announced on Thursday.

Patrialis Akbar from the National Mandate Party (PAN) faction said the decision had been agreed upon by House Commission III, which will hold the hearings.

Previous interviews for officials nominated for top state and government posts had always been done during closed-door meetings.

Patrialis said that ahead of the interview of Sutanto, people would be given a chance to give information and data on the police chief candidate.

Patrialis also said 11 members of Commission III visited Sutanto's home in Jakarta on Thursday ahead of the official hearings.

The visit was aimed at making sure Sutanto's family was prepared to allow him to assume the tough job as the new police chief, Patrialis added.

Such a meeting, he said, was normally held by House members as part of similar screening processes for other candidates nominated as government agency heads. --Antara