REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, SURABAYA -- President Joko Widodo reaffirmed here on Saturday (10/1) that nominating Commissioner General Budi Gunawan as a candidate to be the next national police chief was done following procedures.
"It (Budi Gunawan's name) was one of the suggestions made by the National Police Commission (Kompolnas). Based on my prerogative, I made the choice and presented it to the parliament," he said on the sidelines of a visit to the shipyard of state-owned firm PT PAL.
He added that the government had made the choice after following correct procedures.
According to Cabinet Secretary Andi Widjajanto, the Kompolnas had earlier proposed nine names that were then submitted to the coordinating minister for political, security and legal affairs, who is also the chief of Kompolnas, on Friday morning.
The president later summoned minister/state secretary Pratikno to prepare a letter of proposal, wherein Gunawan was nominated as a candidate for the post of the national police chief, to be sent to the parliament for approval.
"We, as the cabinet secretary and minister/state secretary, never enquired about the reasons why the president made the choice because it is his prerogative," he explained.
Widjajanto admitted that the KPK (Corruption Eradication Commission) and PPATK (the Financial Analysis and Transactions Reporting Center) were not involved in the process of the nomination of the sole candidate because it was not mandated by regulations.
Regarding rumors about the candidate's suspiciously large account, Widjajanto noted that the issue had emerged in 2008 but had never been investigated.
"If A, B or C in the police force or other institutions are, indeed, suspected to be involved in financial issues, why have no actions been taken since 2008?" he questioned.
The cabinet secretary also pointed out that the president had clarified the issue with the police. "I believe the result was positive, so the president went ahead with nominating Budi Gunawan," he remarked.
Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika
