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strong>Sept. 3, p4

Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan has lashed out at recent over-exposed crime investigations that have caused public controversy.

He warned law enforcement institutions not to make '€œnoise'€ while doing their jobs because it may disrupt the economy.

'€œThe point is, the President [Joko '€˜Jokowi'€™ Widodo] and the Vice President [Jusuf Kalla] have both ordered Bogor [law enforcement] not to be so disruptive. You are perfectly welcome to enforce the law, but it can be done wisely without being publicized,'€ he said at the State Palace on Wednesday.

'€œThe President emphasized that everyone must obey the orders given to his subordinates. This is true for ministers, the military [TNI] and the police force and it applies to me too.'€

Luhut'€™s comments followed previous statements he had made since becoming coordinating minister about how law enforcement and corruption eradication should be upheld, but not blown out of proportion in the public sphere.
 

Your comments:

Budi Waseso is so arrogant that he can'€™t even figure out how ignorant he really is. That this person even made it to three-star level is beyond comprehension. He claims to uphold and enforce the law, yet breaks it by not submitting his wealth report.

That immediately should have raised red flags and he should have never been promoted into the position. Fortunately, his ignorant arrogance got the best of him.

Willo
 
Only one fish in a well-stocked pond. The pond needs to be drained completely

Sima

Budi Waseso hasn'€™t been fired! He is still at work today.

Terry McAsee

 
Mr. President, let the two police officials go: Busi Waseso and Victor Simanjuntak. They should remember they wouldn'€™t get the opportunity twice, so let'€™s make it happen.

Mohammad Yousuf

Just my guess only: I read somewhere that Waseso brought his men to hassle the guys in the port and from there the complaints reached the ears of President Jokowi, who apparently is trying to clean up the presence of the mafias and other incorrigible hardnuts there. Enough is enough?

LW

Yeah, that was Pelindo II, the problem is that corruption happened even before Lino became the director of Pelindo II. He has nothing to do with the crane business, but Budi Waseso still charged in anyway, making other directors in other BUMN too scared to do anything at all if this continues. I'€™m probably wrong though, but that was their excuse.

I'€™m not really sure whether the investigation into the Pertamina and Pelindo graft cases were the main reason for this.

You may have a different opinion, but to me this is simply an '€œenough is enough!'€ kind of reaction. Jokowi, Rini, Luhut and some other people feel that Budi Waseso is scaring too many people and, of course, investors.

Right now, the government is planning a massive deregulation so BUMN, governors, mayors and many other government officials, including many private businesses, would be able to act without fear of being criminalized and to make things smoother in general for improving the economy.

Kansek

But now we can see from this new report today (Sept. 3) that he is still at work and is not fired after all.

TA
 
Mr. President,

This seems the opportune time to clean up an institution that has hampered foreign investment for quite some time. If you are serious about increasing foreign investment, those seen as involved with the corruption that lays within the boundaries of red tape need to be removed.

Foreign investors watch closely the news that leaks out of Indonesia about police making business and lives hard because of corruption and shoddy police work, not to mention trumped-up charges to get their way.

Clean the house at the top and you will see most of the lower echelons fall into place when new law-abiding leaders take over with iron fists. Then order the governors to do the same or be themselves held responsible for supporting bad police leadership. Then mayors '€” every level if the police force must be cleaned.

Potential investors don'€™t want their employees having to deal with corruption at any level or with the red tape the police seem to love to throw at them, with a price of course.

Only the top levels of the police are feared '€” not for any physical reasons but for getting caught in their traps of transferring your money from your pocket to theirs or else face a trumped-up charge and investigation that costs you dearly in legal fees, delays in permits and a loss of business.

More than feared, they are hated by those who want to do business here. The lower levels are not feared, but hated just the same. They are like pests that show up at your dinner party.

No police should be hated and they wouldn'€™t be if they actually did their job to protect and serve.

If they were out enforcing laws instead of being party to breaking them, it would lead to more respect of the force. Right now, nothing but contempt is felt for them.

Simaging

Why was US$5.9 million found in Budi Gunawan'€™s child'€™s bank account? Why was this never explained? Why has he still not made a wealth report? Why do top cops in Indonesia have huge sums?

Lasem Benny

Two birds in one stone? Very unlikely. The polisi is one of the most well-backed and well-organized organizations in the world. Their heads won'€™t just fall like that without a big fight or a serious upheaval. This is just a rumor and will die down quickly.

Abu

Why would they fire him for the Pelindo II investigation? I would be glad to see him go, but not for the wrong reason.

Kantisini