Police chief candidate wants to build cooperation with hardliners

  Timur Pradopo

National Police chief candidate Comr. Gen. Timur Pradopo says that he plans to build cooperation with the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) in order to serve and protect the public.

"We have to be close with all elements of the society, including the FPI," Timur told reporters at the House of Representatives in Senayan, South Jakarta, on Wednesday.

Timur said that the FPI had numerous prominent figures that could assist the police to guard domestic security.

The FPI is a hardline Islamic group that has been involved in many conflicts over the years.

It once attacked a peace rally of interfaith tolerance during the commemoration of Pancasila Day.