Complicated! Many Reject The Police's Motion Under The Ministry
JAKARTA - The proposal by the Governor of Lemhanas Agus Widjojo to place the Indonesian National Police (Polri) under the Ministry of Homeland Security received many rejections. The proposal was called making noise, unattractive and could raise the issue of the dual function of the Police.
Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives (DPR) Sufmi Dasco Ahmad assessed that the proposal to place the National Police under the ministry should be reviewed before being disclosed to the public. This is because the National Resilience Institution (Lemhanas) is an influential institution. "I think what has been conveyed should have been thoroughly studied before being released to the public," said Dasco at the Parliament Complex, Jakarta, Tuesday, January 4. The daily chairman of the Gerindra Party said that Lemhanas should also socialize the proposal first to the DPR to find out whether the proposal can be implemented or not. "Later, we will see whether it can be implemented or not," said Dasco.
Meanwhile, Member of Commission III of the DPR RI from the Gerindra faction Habiburokhman, assessed that the proposal to form the Ministry of Homeland Security and National Security Council from the Governor of Lemhannas Agus Widjojo was unattractive.
Moreover, one of the goals is to make the police (Polri) under the ministry. Instead, said Habiburokhman, the proposal would complicate the bureaucracy in high state institutions. "I think the proposal is even more complicated," said Habiburokhman at the DPR Building, Tuesday, January 4.
The Deputy Chairperson of the Gerindra Party considered that the Lemhanas Governor's idea was too imposing. It is better, said Habiburokhman, to maximize the existing institutions or agencies.
"If we are the Gerindra Faction, I think the current one is good, we shouldn't experiment too much, we'll feel sorry for the people. That's not an interesting idea this time," he said. Habiburokhman reminded that the proposal was based on public criticism because the supervision of the National Police was considered not working. So the solution is not to simplify state agencies. "There are too many of us, this commission, that commission, this council, that council, so it's more bureaucratic. Now, if the context of supervision of the Police is clear in parliament, the budget is also here in the DPR , I just think the monitoring model is strengthened," he said.
Worried about the dual function of the police
Indonesia Police Watch (IPW) criticized the suggestion by the Governor of the National Defense Institute (Lemhannas) Lt. Gen. TNI (Ret.) Agus Widjoyo, to place the National Police under the Ministry of Home Affairs. IPW assesses that this can be analogous to the gust of wind on coral hills in the sea, which does not have any influence on the institutionalization of the National Police.
The chairman of Indonesia Police Watch, Sugeng Teguh Santoso, said the proposal would hit a rocky rock with complicated regulations and political practices. Because, in accordance with Article 30 paragraph 4 of the 1945 Constitution, it is written, "The State Police of the Republic of Indonesia as a state instrument that maintains public security and order has the duty to protect, protect, serve the community, and enforce the law.
While in TAP MPR No. VII/MPR/2000 concerning the Role of the TNI and the Role of the Police, states that the National Police of the Republic of Indonesia is under the President. While article 8 of Law NO. 2 of 2002 it is clearly stated that the Polri institution is under the President as the Head of State. "If the proposal from the Governor of Lemhannas is to be realized, there will be a long process of changing or amending the constitution, revoking the MPR Decree and revising the POLRI Law," said Sugeng in Jakarta, Tuesday, 4 January.
In addition, he continued, they would face a complicated political process and full of political bargaining with major parties and party leaders to be able to push the Lemhannas Governor's proposal. , politicians and even the president about the issue of "dual function of the police" which is getting stronger after the reform. In particular, the social and political role which is very real and has become the focus of the dual function group of ABRI, which used to exist and is now finished.
"So there seems to be a shift in the center of power from the dual function of ABRI during the new order to the dual function of the National Police in the current reform era," he said.
Sugeng explained that the term 'dual function of the National Police' itself was not explicitly stated, but it was actually applied based on Article 28 of Law 2 of 2002 concerning the National Police. Therefore, this must be a serious thought from the leadership of the National Police. In addition, Sugeng explained, there is a potential for a political year where according to the Ministry of Home Affairs there are at least 272 regional heads whose terms of office will expire in 2022 and 2023 must be filled by the executor of the task (Plt). While the implementation of the regional elections will take place simultaneously in 2024 and require domestic security. "In appointing the task force, the government always considers people who are able to maintain security until the election is complete. The domestic security sector is a top priority and is the main task of the National Police," he explained. parse, in political practice there has been a precedent in the 2018 West Java Regional Head Election. At that time, the government appointed a high-ranking National Police officer who was also the Main Secretary of the National Defense Institute Komjen Pol. Mochamad Iriawan or Iwan Bule as acting (Plt) Governor of West Java.
The appointment itself was based on Presidential Decree No. 106/P of 2018 concerning Ratification of the Respectful Dismissal of the Governor and Deputy Governor of West Java for the 2013-2018 term and the Appointment of the Acting Governor of West Java which was signed by President Jokowi, on June 8 2018. However, many people protested against it. but the government continues to inaugurate because it guarantees that it can maintain regional security. Taking this into account, IPW believes that the leadership of the National Police must be careful, careful and introspective regarding the issue of the dual function of the National Police so that jealousy from other institutions does not occur. In relation to the issue of the 'dual function of the National Police', IPW asks the President to give special attention so that there is no excessive attitude from the Polri institution that has the potential to create political ripples from groups that feel left behind," said Sugeng. Claimed to be a Security Reform Effort
The Governor of Lemhannas Agus Widjojo explained that his proposal regarding the formation of the National Security Council was not merely to place the National Police under the ministry. He claimed that the proposal was an effort to improve security sector reform. "So this is to remind the discourse about the thoughts that exist in the various components of the nation," said Agus, Monday, January 3. Agus said, apart from the National Police, other institutions such as the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) will also be placed in the National Security Council. So it is hoped that in the future there must be close cooperation between these institutions and the relevant ministries. "Now we ask, what national policy does the police carry out? Can't an operational agency formulate its own policies, implement it themselves, make its own budget, implement it itself, supervise itself there are no checks and balances," he said. In addition, his party is also considering including immigration into the portfolio. Apart from Immigration, other institutions such as Customs and Excise, Bakamla, will also be included in the National Security Council. "So it's not an urgency or not, but we will hope that later we will increase the efficiency and effectiveness of national policies. So there is a national policy, which is comprehensive in nature on domestic security issues which is divided evenly by the operational agencies," he said.
Agus explained that in Indonesia's democratic political system, operational institutions such as the TNI and Polri cannot stand independent and autonomous from political authorities. The existence of the National Police under the president is ineffective and only burdens the president.