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Badrodin defends Budi's appointment
Unhappy: Anticorruption activists protest the recent inauguration of Comr
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span class="caption">Unhappy: Anticorruption activists protest the recent inauguration of Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan as deputy National Police chief. The police general is a former graft suspect. JP/Bambang Muryanto
National Police chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti has defended the recent appointment of the controversial Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan as his deputy, saying that the former adjutant of former president Megawati Soekarnoputri is a capable figure and suitable for the job.
Badrodin said the police's Rank and Promotion Council for High-Ranking Officers (Wanjakti) had unanimously agreed that Budi was the best choice for the deputy chief post.
'There are a lot of positives [to Budi], don't just look at the negative aspects. Everyone has their faults but let's explore Budi's strengths to help build the police force,' he said.
Badrodin also insisted that there would not be a power struggle between him and Budi, often touted as the choice of Megawati, who is also the chief of the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).
'The command is in my hand, all orders are from me,' he said, adding that he had previously worked with Budi and did not experience any friction.
A close aide of Megawati, Budi was President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo's first choice for police chief.
His nomination was later dropped after the Corruption Eradication Corruption (KPK) named him a suspect in a bribery case.
Lawmakers at the House of Representatives later recommended him for the deputy chief position and President Jokowi later said that he would leave the appointment to Wanjakti as he refused to intervene in the process.
Budi was officially sworn in during a closed-door ceremony on Wednesday at the National Police headquarters on Jl. Trunojoyo, South Jakarta.
Badrodin praised Budi for his extensive political connections that may benefit the force.
'He's superb at conception and has a wide perspective and extensive connections. His diplomacy is also excellent,' said Badrodin.
'A senior police officer who has no connections and is without public support would be in a very difficult position. That's why we're taking advantage of Budi's unrivaled network,' he said.
Anticorruption activists still resist Budi's appointment, arguing that the fact Budi was inaugurated without formal notification to the President was a breach of law.
Wasingatu Zakiyah, an activist with the Indonesian Women's Anticorruption Movement, said that according to Article 57 (1) of Presidential Regulation (Perpres) No. 52/2010 on National Police organizational structure and work orders, the inauguration and dismissal of police officers from echelon IA and IB were decided by the National Police chief after consulting with the President.
'The consultation ought not to be conducted only verbally. There should be a written document detailing the National Police chief's request to consult with the President about the deputy chief's inauguration,' said Zakiyah in a press conference at the Countercorruption Study Center (PUKAT) at Gadjah Mada University on Thursday.
