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As'ad, Ian, Erfi tipped to lead BIN
Confronted with challenging security and defense issues, president-elect Joko "Jokowi" Widodo may appoint a veteran spy to lead the National Intelligence Agency (BIN)
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onfronted with challenging security and defense issues, president-elect Joko "Jokowi" Widodo may appoint a veteran spy to lead the National Intelligence Agency (BIN).
Several politicians from Jokowi's camp told The Jakarta Post recently that three candidates would have the biggest chance of leading the agency.
"Jokowi has three candidates in mind. It remains unclear who he'll ultimately select," said the politician, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.
According to the politician, among the three candidates is former BIN deputy chief As'ad Said Ali, 65, who currently serves as deputy chairman of the country's biggest Muslim organization, Nadhlatul Ulama (NU).
As'ad was BIN's career official and the first civilian in the agency to get the second top job in the then military dominated institution.
He was appointed for the job in 2001 by then president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid. As'ad, who spent most of his intelligence career in the Middle East, assumed the position until he retired in May 2010.
"I've met with Pak Jokowi several times to give him input on, for example, counterterrorism," As'ad told the Post recently, denying speculation that he would be tipped to head BIN.
Another leading candidate for the job is rear marshal (ret.) Ian Perdanakusuma, 68, former military intelligence agency (BAIS) chief between 2001 and 2004.
Ian, who has close ties to Megawati Soekarnoputri, chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle ( PDI-P), which backed Jokowi's presidential bid, publicly supported Jokowi during his presidential campaign.
Current BIN deputy chief Maj. Gen. Erfi Trianussu, 56, is also among the leading candidates.
He previously served as BIN's deputy for domestic affairs, dealing mostly at the time with politics and details of the legislative and presidential elections.
Prior to joining BIN in 2012, Erfi was Indonesian Military (TNI) commander for the Cendrawasih Military Command, overseeing Papua between 2010 and 2012.
