TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Proposed police law revision fails to guarantee more accountability
Lawmakers are mulling raising the retirement age for police officers through a revision to the prevailing police law. But experts say there is no urgency for this, saying lawmakers should instead correct underlying problems in the force, such as its lack of accountability.
Change text size
Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Police officers attend a ceremonial guard for Christmas and New Year at the National Monument (Monas) in Jakarta on Dec. 22, 2022. (Reuters/Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana)
Lawmakers are mulling over raising the retirement age for police officers through a revision to the prevailing police law. But experts say there is no urgency for this, saying lawmakers should instead correct underlying problems in the force, such as its lack of accountability.
Reports of a potential revision to the 2002 Police Law first emerged last week, just as the House of Representatives returned from a five-week-long recess.
Member of the House Legislation Body (Baleg), Guspardi Gaus, said on Sunday that the body’s internal team of experts was still mulling the contents of the draft of the bill before it is hashed out in an upcoming Baleg meeting during the current sitting period.
“The plan is for the revision [to be endorsed] as a House initiative, and Baleg will be the initiator [for the proposed revision],” the National Mandate Party (PAN) lawmaker said, as quoted by Tempo.
Much of the public attention on the revision centers on increasing the retirement age of police officers. According to a copy of the draft bill, received by The Jakarta Post on Sunday, the bill raises the retirement age from 58 to between 60 and 65, depending on the role of the officer in question.
The draft bill also regulates that the president, upon consulting with the House of Representatives, could extend the retirement age for four-star police generals – the rank of the National Police chiefs – indefinitely, without any clear limitations.
Another proposed change in the bill is for members of the force to receive social security programs, including health coverage, insurance for work accidents and death, as well as a pension fund.
