General Hoegeng: Honest Police Apart From The Sleeping Police And Police Statues

General Hoegeng (Source: Commons Wikimedia)

JAKARTA - Today, October 14, is the birthday of former Hoegeng Police Chief Iman Santoso. Hoegeng is known as the most honest and clean Chief of Police in Indonesia. He is known to be very transparent and has extraordinary kindness. Hoegeng was appointed as the National Police Chief when Indonesia was in transition from the Old Order to the New Order.

During the transition period, the New Order had top priorities, namely the rehabilitation of economic infrastructure and development of the main sectors. The budget was so pressed that it affected the development budget for the National Police institution. Even Hoegeng found it difficult to make official visits to the regions due to limited funds.

However, the limited funds did not hinder Hoegeng's duties as Chief of Police. At that time, the National Police was trying to improve its image. Hoegeng wanted to show that the Polri under his leadership was a modest and transparent Polri. One of the ways to build transparency is done by Hoegeng by maintaining good relations with the press.

Quoted from Hoegeng's book : An Oasis of Soothing Amid the Corrupt Behavior of Nation Leaders , social criticism from the press is an important input for Hoegeng. However, criticism from the press and the public also sometimes made Hoegeng unable to sleep. Hoegeng is an interesting resource person who has always been the main target of the press.

Apart from being close, Hoegeng is basically very attractive as a highlight. His attitude is upright and with integrity. Hoegeng did not hesitate to take to the field. An interesting thing that is recorded from Hoegeng's attitude is how he takes his route every day to the National Police Headquarters.

This was done by Hoegeng to inspect police work in the field and he also wanted to see first hand the real situation of the community at various points. These two points are important for Hoegeng's goal of straightening the role and maintaining the commitment of the National Police, namely serving the community and fulfilling the people's interests.

Too straight for Indonesia

Until now, Hoegeng is known as the cleanest general. Bribes didn't work for him. Hoegeng is also known as a person who does not hesitate to fight against the authorities who want to intervene in cases handled by the police.

He played a role in the dismantling of the corruption case. Deputy Chief of Police, Lieutenant General Siswadji, in 1977. At that time, a provincial police officer reported to Hoegeng that there was corruption in the police.

Hoegeng, who was no longer the National Police Chief, sent a memo to General Widodo Budidarmo, the then National Police Chief. Hoegeng also told the media about this, one of which was Panda Nababan, a senior reporter for Sinar Harapan.

Another proof that Hoegeng is not greedy and will not take things that are not right is when he retired from the police early. At the age of 49, Hoegeng was dismissed as Chief of Police by President Soeharto.

Previously, it was known that President Soeharto proposed Hoegeng as the Ambassador of Sweden or the Kingdom of Belgium. However, Hoegeng refused because he wanted to remain in Indonesia. Rumors spread that Hoegeng's proposal to become an ambassador was known to "banish" Hoegeng from the country.

After retiring, Hoegeng did not have abundant money or houses in various areas. Quoting Kompas , Hoegeng is known to only get pension funds amounting to Rp10 thousand per month. Until after 2001, Hoegeng had only received an adjustment of Rp1 million per month. After Hoegeng's death in 2004, his wife only received half of the pension, which was Rp. 500 thousand.

Hoegeng's honesty was also raised as a joke for the fourth Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid or Gus Dur. One day, Gus Dur said that in this country, there are only three honest policemen: a statue of a policeman, a sleeping police officer, and a Hoegeng cop.