Prabowo Limits Police Officers' Positions Outside Institutions

JAKARTA - Chairman of the National Police Reform Acceleration Commission (KPRP) Jimly Asshiddiqie revealed that President Prabowo Subianto had decided to limit the positions that members of the National Police could occupy outside the police institution must be regulated in a limited manner.

This was conveyed by Jimly after the National Police Reform Acceleration Commission handed over a book of recommendations to President Prabowo at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday, May 5.

"The last point is regarding the regulation on restrictions on positions that can be occupied by the National Police outside the police structure. Well, so the President has decided that it must be determined in a limited way which positions, such as in the TNI Law," said Jimly at Istana Merdeka, reported by ANTARA.

Jimly explained that the restrictions would be regulated in a limited manner by determining certain positions that could be filled by members of the National Police, similar to the regulations in the law governing the TNI.

According to him, there has never been a clear limit regarding positions outside institutions that can be occupied by members of the National Police.

He added that the provisions of the restrictions would be included in government regulations or laws that are being prepared by the relevant ministries under the coordination of the Coordinating Ministry for Legal, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections.

"It must be included in the PP or included in the law which will soon be resolved by the responsible ministry under the coordination of the Coordinating Minister," said Jimly.

In addition, Jimly said the President also agreed to strengthen the National Police Commission so that it has more effective authority, with binding recommendations and more independent membership.

The strengthening will be regulated in the revision of the law which is being prepared to be discussed with the DPR.

KPRP, said Jimly, also reported a difference of opinion regarding the mechanism for appointing the National Police Chief.

However, after discussion, it was decided that the mechanism would still follow the current practice, namely, it would be appointed by the President with the consent of the DPR.

"After discussing the pros and cons, the President gave directions, yes, it's just like now, so the National Police Chief is still appointed by the President upon approval from the DPR. Like the current practice, it is good for the National Police and the TNI Commander," he said.

Jimly said the KPRP also did not recommend the establishment of a new security ministry to oversee the National Police.

In the study, the KPRP stated that the formation of a new ministry to oversee the National Police did not bring much benefit.

"The President also asked, we explained that our conclusion, the benefits outweigh the harm. If the harm is more, then we will not propose it," said Jimly.

"I emphasize that the main focus of the KPRP is to strengthen the reform of the Polri institution through the revision of regulations and internal improvement, not the establishment of a new institution," he said.

According to him, the commission proposed a revision of the Law on the National Police which will be followed up through government regulations, presidential regulations, and presidential instructions to ensure that the reform recommendations can be implemented concretely by the police ranks.

"We propose a revision of the law on the National Police which will later be followed up by government regulations, presidential regulations, to presidential instructions which give instructions to the National Police Chief and all levels to carry out the recommendations that have been agreed upon," said Jimly.