President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has made what analysts have described as a bold move in nominating a Christian police chief to replace outgoing chief Gen. Idham Azis amid a recent surge of sectarianism in the country.

Jokowi submitted the name of Comr. Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo, his former adjutant and the National Police's current Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) head, to the House of Representatives on Wednesday for confirmation.

If the House approves the nomination, Listyo is set to be the nation’s second police chief from a religious minority background, after the late Widodo Budidarmo, who led the police from 1974 to 1978.

Analysts have said that Listyo’s religious background could be a hurdle for him when he assumes the police’s top job, as the country has seen a recent wave of Islamic conservatism. A simi...