Public demands for police performance continue to increase. Therefore, said Dr. Edi Saputra Hasibuan, SH, MH, Executive Director of the Indonesian Police Strategic Studies Institute (Lemkapi), the police must always improve and increase their professionalism. The issue of a salary that does not meet expectations cannot be an excuse for not working well and professionally.

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A person's decision to become a police officer, TNI (Indonesian National Army), or ASN (State Civil Apparatus) is a service to the state. This, said Edi Hasibuan, needs to be appreciated. On the other hand, public requests or demands must also be listened to regarding the desire for the police to provide the best service.

"It is hoped that Polri's services to the community will get better from time to time, the Polri's duties must also get better. Because people are smart now, when the police don't work well, people will criticize them. "Social media has become a means to convey public criticism," he said.

The public, continued Edi Saputra Hasibuan, is not allowed to provide criticism or input. However, this must have a strong foundation so that it is not limited to accusations that have the nuances of slander. One of the criticisms that has really attracted attention is the accusation that the police are not neutral ahead of the 2024 presidential and legislative elections. This case has indeed been stopped, but there are lessons that can be learned. "The lesson that can be learned is that anyone must be careful in conveying criticism, if there is any and has a strong basis, please do so. "But if there is no basis or evidence, it means that what is being conveyed is slander," stressed Edi.

Apart from that, the role of the police and other law enforcers in eradicating criminal acts of corruption has also become a public concern following tensions between the National Police and the Corruption Eradication Commission. "Ideally, these two institutions work together as law enforcement agencies. Not at odds with each other, that doesn't need to happen. We did observe the tensions that occurred in these two institutions. The problem is that if these two institutions clash, the corruptors will laugh. "The available energy should be used to eradicate corruption, not to fight," said Edi Saputra Hasibuan to Iqbal Irsyad, Edy Suherli, Bambang Eros, and Irfan Medianto during a visit to the VOI office in the Tanah Abang area, Central Jakarta. Here is the full excerpt.

As a research institute that specifically focuses on police institutions, how does Lemkapi observe POLRI, what are the crucial problems it faces?

Before I answer this question, let me first explain that Lemkapi is an institution consisting of a combination of police observers and academics. So this institution is staffed by academics and lecturers, our main task is to conduct studies on the performance of the Indonesian police.

It is hoped that Polri's services to the community will get better from time to time, and the Polri's duties must also get better. Because people are smart now, when the police don't work well, people will criticize them. Social media has become a means of conveying public criticism.

In the research we conducted, what people often complained about was the detective service. When I served as a member of the National Police Commissioner, almost 80 percent of the public's complaints were against the detective service. Some felt it was unfair, some felt the police were not quick enough to respond to reports.

It's not easy to provide service that satisfies everyone, how do you deal with something like this?

Indeed, this is not easy, because it is fair for one party, according to the other party, it is not. In the context of services in the investigation, one person is the reporter, while the other is the reported party. Fair to the reporter is not necessarily fair to the reported, and vice versa.

From the case example you described earlier, what priority scale should the police take?

It's not easy to satisfy everyone. What must be done is to have legal certainty. Those who benefit will say the police are professional. But on the other hand, those who suffer will say the police are unfair. This is the difficult position of the police facing two different poles.

Before the 2024 presidential and legislative elections, accusations that the police are not neutral have surfaced, how do you see this reality?

In this context I see two different views, one that views the police as not neutral and the other the opposite. President Jokowi has also responded to this issue, if there is evidence of police non-neutrality, action will be taken.

What turns out to be a lot of this is that people don't have any evidence for their accusations, so they're just talking. If there is no evidence, how can you take action? Before the election, the police also made a firm statement that they were professional, neutral and would provide the best service during the election.

One of the candidate's success teams who accused the police of not being neutral has attracted the attention of many parties, how do you see that?

The problem is that he is a successful team candidate for candidate number 3, but on the other hand he is also a journalist. We have to see in what position he speaks. If you are a spokesperson for a candidate pair, it means you are political in nature. If he were in a position other than that of spokesperson, I don't think the problem would be as complicated as this.

The problem is that accusations about the police not being neutral are serious, they could reduce the level of public trust in the Police as a state institution. The impact will be big, because it involves professionalism.

Now that the case has been dismissed, what lessons can be learned from this matter?

The lesson that can be learned is that anyone must be careful in conveying criticism, if there is any and has a strong basis, please do so. But if there is no basis or evidence, it means that what is being conveyed is slander. That's very dangerous. I think the lesson that can be learned is to be careful in conveying criticism, especially if you don't have evidence.

Regarding the tension that occurred between the Corruption Eradication Committee and the Indonesian National Police, what should the relationship between these two law enforcement agencies be in an effort to fight corruption?

Ideally, these two institutions should work together as law enforcement agencies. Not at odds with each other, that doesn't need to happen. We did observe the tensions that occurred in these two institutions. The problem is that if these two institutions clash, the corruptors will laugh. The existing energy should be used to eradicate corruption, not to fight each other.

There are a lot of National Police members who are seconded to the KPK, around 100 people. Synergy between law enforcement agencies must occur, complementing and supporting each other, not the other way around.

So there is no choice but to work together?

Yes, I and all of us from Lemkapi and all elements of the nation really hope for strong cooperation between the National Police and the Corruption Eradication Committee in eradicating corruption.

The role of the police recently is not only in the field of social security, we also see its role in the Food Security Task Force and monitoring fuel counterfeiting, etc., so far has this role been effective?

This is part of the police's duty to supervise the economy. When the police don't do their job prices soar, counterfeiting happens everywhere. This is where the role of the National Police is needed to help the community, because the police are servants, protectors and protectors of the community. If this task is not carried out, the community will become victims.

The other day President Jokowi also ordered the National Police to carry out surveillance on TPPO (criminal act of trafficking in persons). Not everyone can be sent abroad to work, they must fulfill the processes established by law.

People now expect police presence?

The police should not sleep because their presence is needed to help the community. What the public hopes for is quick action and upholding the law. Not long ago we carried out security measures at various regional police confiscating hundreds of kilograms of crystal methamphetamine which were ready to be distributed. What would happen if it was all distributed to various areas. The National Police must protect the public from the dangers of drugs, do not let the public be exposed to drugs.

As technology advances, the variety of crimes grows? The problem is that the acceleration of technological development is not accompanied by supporting regulations, how to overcome this gap?

The National Police must anticipate technological advances. At the National Police Headquarters there is a Cyber ​​Directorate at the Regional Police level and there is also the same division, whose job is to observe new crimes in the technology sector. So that this cyber crime case does not disturb the public. We hope that the legislature as law makers can have a priority scale to create the legal instruments needed to deal with this cyber crime.

There is no reason for the police to remain silent when they discover something new such as the development of artificial intelligence (AI) which is now widespread. The police must respond quickly and take action so that crimes using AI can be anticipated and the public feels safe.

Currently, according to your observations, are our police prosperous?

Being a police officer is serving the country, even though the salary may not be what you want, there is no reason to do something bad. The public expects the police to work professionally and be able to carry out their duties well. If salaries are still insufficient, I think it is the duty of the government and state leaders to improve it.

The salary of a new member of the National Police is around 2 million, plus the allowance he can receive is around 4 million a month. If he has a family, I don't think this is enough. This is lower than the UMR in Jakarta. I think it's not just the National Police, TNI and other ASN that the government should also pay attention to. But once again, even if your salary is not as expected, you are not allowed to do anything wrong, there are rules for everything.

Is the enthusiasm of Indonesian youth to become members of the National Police still high?

My observation is that interest is still high. In one Polda, around 150 people are needed, but up to 4,000 people can register. This is a lot of interest. When compared, the interest in joining the National Police is higher than joining the TNI. I don't know why that is. This is a challenge so that the police can be better in the future. Don't use this high interest by individuals to seek personal gain.

What are your suggestions for improving the National Police in the future?

The police must increase professionalism, need to increase speed in service. The problem is that just one member of the National Police made a mistake, the public can generalize. As a result, trust in the police decreases. Now, thank God, he is slowly recovering. To achieve this is not easy, the police must make many innovations to regain public trust. Support from the community is also very necessary to achieve this goal.

Edi Saputra Hasibuan, Feel the Joy of Being a Teacher

Outside of his busy schedule as Executive Director of the Indonesian Police Strategic Studies Institute (Lemkapi), Dr. Edi Saputra Hasibuan, SH, MH, is also a permanent lecturer at Bhayangkara University, Jakarta. “I love being a teacher or lecturer. I can feel the joy of being a teacher. "Meeting and interacting with students is very enjoyable for me, it is medicine for me," said the man who was born in South Tapanuli, April 13 1968.

The activities of teaching, discussing and sharing knowledge for Edi are activities that he is really looking forward to. This activity can make him happy and cure his homesickness.

“When I miss me I go back to my hometown in Padang Lawas, North Sumatra. There I founded a superior school; SMA Plus Taruna Bangsa. "Through this school, I and the teachers there dream of educating the students there so that they can excel and become the pride of their families and hometowns," said Edi, who has served as a journalist for more than 20 years at Polda Metro Jaya.

Apart from being a lecturer, Edi was also trusted to be a member of the National Police Commissioner (2012-2015). He used his experience and experience with the Police for more than two decades to conduct studies and observations and then provide suggestions and input for the Police of the Republic of Indonesia. "Currently, I am totally and continuously in the process of becoming a good teacher," said Edi Hasibuan, who teaches the Police Law course at Bhayangkara University, Jakarta.

Enjoys Badminton

Apart from being a journalist, teacher and observer of the police, Edi also finds time to exercise. “I enjoy badminton. When I was young, I often watched famous Indonesian badminton players such as Lim Swie King and Rudi Hartono. When we play on our field it's as if we are like Liem Swie King and Rudi Hartono, even though my smashes are nothing compared to those two players. "But we were really confident when it came to the smash," he said while laughing.

However, during the month of Ramadan he did not go out into the field much. "I don't know why I'm so lazy about playing badminton in this fasting month. "Hopefully after Eid we can return to the field and practice matches with friends," continued Edi, who also really admired the skills of Anthony Sinisuka Ginting and Jonatan Christie, two players whose achievements have been shining recently.

Realizing that he is no longer young, when practicing or playing badminton, Edi Hasibuan doesn't want to force himself. “If you're my age now, you shouldn't force yourself to exercise. It's just light, the important thing is to sweat. If you feel tired, don't continue. "Rest first, to give the body a chance to recover from fatigue," he explained.

Maintain Food Intake

The issue of food is also a concern for Edi Saputra Hasibuan. “One day my blood sugar rose higher than usual. Wow, this could be a hassle if you let it go. Because people who have diabetes can spread to other organs and become other diseases, this will certainly be troublesome. "That's why I started reducing my intake of foods that contain high levels of sugar," he said.

Meal times have also begun to be regulated. “I have also reduced my habit of eating at night. In the afternoon it's still OK, but when it's evening, I no longer eat anything heavy like rice or other carbohydrates. I keep my blood sugar levels from spiking. "This must be maintained by being disciplined in choosing food intake and maintaining appropriate meal times," stressed Edi, who controls his blood sugar levels every month.

"Thank God, at the last check it was still a reasonable size. "Hopefully my blood sugar will always be safe, so that my quality of life can be healthier," continued Edi, who at the weekend devotes time to his family at home.

According to Edi, attention must also be given to the family. “Don't just do things at the office or outside. The family must also receive attention. "That's why if there are students who ask to meet at the weekend, I just direct them home," said Edi Saputra Hasibuan, who divides his time traveling around Indonesia to observe the performance of the police from Sabang to Merauke.

"There are a lot of National Police members who are seconded to the Corruption Eradication Commission, around 100 of them. This synergy between law enforcement agencies must occur, complementing and supporting each other, not the other way around,"