REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- President Joko Widodo has asked the newly-inaugurated police chief, General Tito Karnavian, to focus on two things --- maintaining unity of the force and carrying out reforms.
"To meet major challenges in the future, I ask you to focus on two things. Firstly, you must maintain the unity, cohesiveness and internal solidity of the police force to have a strong foundation to carry out state duties," he said after inaugurating the new police chief here on Wednesday.
Secondly, the president asked the police chief to carry out reforms consistently and all across within the police force.
President Joko Widodo said in his speech at the 70th anniversary of the police force on July 1 that police reform was the key to meet future challenges.
"Reform must be carried out thoroughly, from to bottom, starting from recruitment process to police as a public service, from mentality to a change in behavior," he stressed.
He emphasized that he wanted the reform efforts to proceed in concrete terms, and be reflected in the way people experience police service and protection is granted.
He added that he wished people are able to access police services in an easier, simpler way, without having to bribe anyone. Also, clear procedures should be followed.
"Eradicate all kinds of practices aimed at bending laws and enhance the sense of professionalism in law enforcement efforts to give people legal certainly and justice for all," he urged.
President Joko Widodo also reiterated that the new chief must encourage the police force to give equal protection to all community members.
The police must be able to act as a force that removes differences and privileges the value of tolerance and strengthening a sense of unity, he underlined.
"The police must also be able to work together with other government institutions to ensure people remain aware of threats posed by terrorism and narcotic drugs," he advised.
He suggested that police should take preventive steps and mount efforts for early detection of any potential security threat, especially terrorism.
"Your challenges in the future will be heavier and more complex but I believe that under your leadership, Polri (Indonesian police force) will be able to meet them well and will be trusted more by the people," he stressed.
To former chief General Badrodin Haiti, who would soon retire from the police force, President Joko Widodo expressed his gratefulness for the service he rendered.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by many officials including cabinet ministers and former president, Megawati Soekarnoputri.
The House of Representatives approved the nomination of Commissioner General Karnavian as the new National Police chief at a plenary meeting held on June 27.
Karnavian, previously chief of the National Counter-Terrorism Agency, joined the police academy in 1987 and had earlier held several posts, including that of the Jakarta Police chief and the head of the Special Detachment 88 counter-terrorism squad.
Born in Palembang, South Sumatra Province, on October 26, 1964, Karnavian graduated from the Exeter University in the Great Britain and earned his master's degree in Police Studies in 1993.
In 1998, Karnavian graduated from the Massey University in Auckland, New Zealand, with Strategic Studies as a major subject. Later, Karnavian earned his PhD from the Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, in Singapore in 2013.
Karnavian's reputation began to grow during his term with the Police's Special Detachment 88, which succeeded in neutralizing notorious terrorist leaders, such as Azhari Husin and Noordin M. Top.
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