“Welcome, future governor!” House of Representatives’ Commission III chairman Bambang Soesatyo said as the National Police’s Mobile Brigade (Brimob) chief Insp. Gen. Murad Ismail entered the room during a hearing at the House on Thursday.

Bambang, of the Golkar Party, went on to explain to the meeting’s participants about Murad’s bid to run in the gubernatorial election in Maluku, which will be one of 171 regions to elect new leaders in the upcoming regional elections next year.

There have been at least five active police and military generals who have been touted as potential candidates for regional leadership.

The National Police’s education and training division deputy chief Insp. Gen. Anton Charliyan had been touted as a potential West Java governor or deputy governor candidate while North Sumatra Police chief Insp. Gen. Paulus Waterpauw is set to join Papua’s gubernatorial race with support from the Golkar Party in Papua.

From the military, there are at least two generals expected to run for governor.

Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) commander Lt. Gen. Edy Rahmayadi has decided to run for North Sumatra governor, saying he would resign by the time the General Elections Commission (KPU) North Sumatra opened the registration window for candidates in January.

Meanwhile, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) is reportedly considering to endorse Jakarta’s Military commander Maj. Gen. Jaswandi, who is set to retire in March next year, as a candidate for governor of Central Java.

The law states the police and military must be politically neutral. Personnel of the two forces do not have the right to vote or run in elections.

Members of the police or military must resign before theycan officially register as a candidate at the General Elections Commission (KPU), just like when Agus Harimurti, son of former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, resigned from the Army to run for Jakarta governor in September last year.

Although the KPU has yet to open the application window for 2018 candidates, current generals actively engaging in politics ahead of the races has prompted activists to voice concerns over potential ethical violations.

While still in the positions, generals vying for regional leadership could potentially be in violation of abuse of power, such as using their influence for political purposes, violating the principle of fairness, said Mufti Makarim, the executive director of the Institute for Defense and Security Studies.

He asserted that military and police officers should leave their position immediately once they possess political ambition to run in elections. “Don’t even approach political parties if [officers] are still active and wearing uniforms,” Mufti said.

“In our democratic electoral system, elections are held to elect civilian leaders. So the generals should keep that in mind during an election, they are no longer security officers and are equally civilian with other candidates,” Mufti added.

Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) political analyst Arya Fernandez said the generals may not retire until they can secure endorsement from political parties.

“What I am worried about is their bid to run [in the elections] could jeopardize their performance at the corps. Their focus must not be divided between their jobs and lobbying with political parties,” Arya added.

Both National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian and Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo have asserted that the two corps would remain neutral ahead of the 2018 regional elections and the 2019 general election.

“We will not be involved in practical politics. We will not be involved in any effort to campaign for any former members of the police running in the elections. Their candidacy will be their own business,” Tito said.

“The public can see later whether or not we use the institution [to campaign for any political interests]. The President has instructed the National Police to be neutral during the regional elections, and I have ordered my personnel to be so,” he added.

Tito said Murad had so far been the only police general who had confirmed his intention to run for regional leadership. Murad has also been at the center of the ongoing controversy surrounding Brimob’s procurement of munitions that was criticized by the TNI for having excessive capabilities.

He also said Paulus had eventually decided to call off his plan to run for Papua’s top post.

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