By: Dita Aida Putri )*
The discourse on the discussion of the Revision of Law Number 2 of 2002 concerning the Indonesian National Police (RUU Polri) is still ongoing, although the House of Representatives (DPR) said it had not received a Presidential Letter (Surpres) regarding the change in regulation.
The Speaker of the DPR, Puan Maharani, denied the news that the DPR would immediately discuss the revision of the Polri Law after ratifying the revision of the TNI Law. Puan emphasized that if there is a Surpres circulating in the public, it is not an official Surpres issued by President Prabowo Subianto. She also ensured that the Problem Inventory List (DIM) of the Polri Bill currently circulating is not an official draft because the DPR leadership has not received the Surpres of the Bill.
The discussion of the Polri Bill must prioritize transparent procedures and be based on the principle of accountability. She asked the public not to speculate on documents that do not yet have an official basis. As part of its commitment to openness, the DPR will ensure that every development in the discussion of this regulation will be officially informed to the public.
For your information, the National Police Bill is included in the DPR’s initiative bill, which has been discussed since 2024. The President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, agreed that the current National Police Law is sufficient to regulate the authority of the police. The Head of State also emphasized that the National Police needs sufficient authority without adding authority beyond what already exists. This is intended so that the National Police can carry out its duties, as well as maintain security and order in the country.
Regarding the formation of the National Police Bill which is considered less transparent and has drawn many protests from the public, President Prabowo has an answer. Prabowo is committed to paying special attention to ensuring access to the draft National Police Bill. Transparency in every legislative process will be improved so that the public can monitor freely.
The Head of State will ask members of parliament, especially those from his political party coalition, to involve the public more in the formation of laws. In this way, it is hoped that the general public will be able to be more involved in the process of making regulations concerning the public interest.
The Director of the Merah Putih Strategic Institute (MPSI), Noor Azhari, also said that Prabowo understands the public’s concerns regarding the issue of transparency in maintaining openness in the discussion of the revision of the National Police Law. Noor Azhari said that the President has ensured that the official document of the National Police Bill will be disseminated periodically so that the public can monitor and provide direct input, and this is worthy of appreciation. In addition, he considered that President Prabowo remains loyal to the principles of reform that have been fought for since the beginning, as he conveyed in exclusive interviews with veteran journalists who discussed various strategic issues, including the revision of the TNI Law and the revision of the National Police Law. Noor Azhari emphasized that the reform agenda carried out by President Prabowo will continue to be monitored by various elements of society, including strategic research institutions such as MPSI.
Meanwhile, member of Commission III of the DPR, Hinca Panjaitan ensured that the discussion of the National Police Bill will be discussed after the parliament receives the Presidential Decree. The Democrat Party politician said that Commission III will invite many experts who have the capacity to provide input on Indonesian police regulations. According to him, openness is the benchmark for his commission to discuss the National Police Bill. Hinca also ensured that if the National Police Bill is discussed in Commission III, the discussion will be carried out openly as was done when discussing the Criminal Procedure Code Bill.
Member of Commission III of the DPR, Soedeson Tandra, assessed that the revision of the Polri Law must be carried out carefully so that it can be adjusted to the revision of the Criminal Procedure Code which is currently a priority for discussion in parliament. According to him, changes in criminal procedure law will have a direct impact on police governance, so good coordination is needed between the two regulations. Discussion of the Polri Bill can only be carried out after the completion of the revision of the Criminal Procedure Code so that there is no overlap in the regulation of the authority of law enforcement officers.
The DPR also ensured that the revision of the Polri Law will be an example of transparency in legislation. Each stage of discussion will be conveyed clearly to the public and involve active participation from various parties. Thus, the regulations produced will have strong legitimacy and can be accepted by all elements of society.
Therefore, the public does not need to worry about the discussion of the revision of the Polri Law because it will involve various elements so that it will be easily accessed by the public. Currently, the public is required to be smarter and not easily provoked by negative narratives regarding the discourse on the revision of the Polri Law. Efforts to politicize the discourse on the revision of the Polri Law are not just differences of opinion, but part of a scenario that has the potential to disrupt the stabilitynational litas.
With public awareness, provocative narratives related to the discourse on revising the National Police Law will not find space, so that the Indonesian nation remains strong in facing global challenges with a unified vision and a complete national spirit.
)* The author is a Public Policy Observer
