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Budi ‘will respect President’s decision’ on new police chief
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Then National Police chief candidate Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan attends a confirmation hearing at the House of Representatives in Jakarta on Jan. 4, 2015. After failing to be inaugurated as police chief in 2015, he has received support to lead the force this year. (JP/DON)
N
ational Police deputy chief Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan has said he will respect the decision of President Joko “Jokowi’ Widodo in nominating a new national police chief to replace Gen. Badrodin Haiti, who is set to retire on July 24.
"We'll support the President's choice, either extending the tenure or replacing the current officer. That is the President's prerogative right," Budi said at the House of Representatives complex in Jakarta on Monday.
Budi is one of the strongest candidates to replace Badrodin after he received support from the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).
In January 2015, his nomination by President Jokowi was approved by the House. The President, however, failed to inaugurate him because the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named him a graft suspect. Budi filed a pretrial motion challenging the KPK's decision and won the case, with the court annulling his suspect status.
Budi is “the most suitable figure to replace Badrodin”, said PDI-P lawmaker Masinton Pasaribu. Another PDI-P lawmaker, Junimart Girsang, said his party would not accept if the President extended Badrodin's leadership because it was against existing laws.
Masinton argued that Budi had performed well as National Police deputy chief, particularly in securing the implementation of the country's simultaneous regional elections. He added that under Badrodin and Budi, the National Police had succeeded in reforming the police institution to become more professional.
Meanwhile, the National Police Commission (Kompolnas) submitted the names of National Police chief candidates to Jokowi on Monday.
"What we need to know is that the President has the authority to select the National Police chief. That is his authority," Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung said as quoted by kompas.com on Monday.
The potential candidates to replace Badrodin, besides Budi, include National Narcotics Agency (BNN) head Comr. Gen. Budi Waseso, National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) head Comr. Gen. Tito Karnavian and Police Education Institute head Comr. Gen. Syafruddin. (bbn)
