By: Andi Ramli
Discussion of the revision of Law Number 2 of 2002 concerning the Indonesian National Police (UU Polri) is still in the early stages and awaiting a presidential letter (Surpres). Until now, the Indonesian House of Representatives has not received an official document from the government to begin the discussion.
However, transparency in the legislative process is a primary concern, as it is considered important to ensure that the resulting revisions truly meet the legal needs that are developing in society and still uphold the principles of democracy.
Commission III of the Indonesian House of Representatives emphasized that transparency will be the main principle in discussing the National Police Bill. Hinca Pandjaitan stated that every discussion of regulations, including the ongoing Criminal Procedure Code, is carried out by involving various parties and conveyed openly to the public.
If the Polri Bill is included in the Commission III discussion agenda, the same pattern will be applied, namely by conveying clear substance and discussions involving experts and the wider community. In addition, Hinca emphasized that this openness is not just a formality, but must become a culture in every policy-making process.
Hinca also highlighted that transparency is not only applied in major regulatory revisions, but also in legal cases handled by Commission III. According to him, transparency is a form of accountability to the public so that every policy produced has strong legitimacy.
The discussion of the National Police Bill itself is still waiting for steps from the government, because it is not an initiative of the DPR. In this context, public participation is very important, so that the public’s voice can be heard and considered in every decision taken.
Meanwhile, the Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, emphasized that there has been no Surpres received by the DPR leadership, so the discussion cannot begin yet. She also dismissed the circulation of the problem inventory list (DIM) which was claimed to be part of the discussion of the revision of the National Police Law.
According to him, the document in circulation is not an official document, so the public is asked not to speculate on the contents of the revision before there is a valid document. With the increasing use of social media in disseminating information, it is important for the public to get accurate and reliable sources of information related to the development of the Polri Bill.
The DPR is committed to not rushing in discussing the revision of the National Police Law, especially since this regulation has a broad impact on police governance in Indonesia. Puan emphasized that the discussion process will only be carried out after there is an official document from the government.
Therefore, all aspects of the revision of the National Police Law will be reviewed in depth so as not to cause prolonged controversy. In this context, various community groups, academics, and non-governmental organizations are expected to play an active role in providing input so that the revision of the National Police Law truly has a positive impact on law enforcement in Indonesia.
In addition, the push to immediately discuss the revision of the National Police Law also came from Member of Commission III of the Indonesian House of Representatives from the Golkar Faction, Soedeson Tandra. According to him, the revision of the National Police Law needs to be discussed immediately so that it is in line with the ongoing revision of the Criminal Procedure Code.
He considered that the renewal of criminal procedure law must be followed by adjustments to police and prosecutorial regulations, so that there is harmonization in the national legal system. In a legal system that continues to develop, it is important for regulations governing law enforcement agencies to always be in harmony so as not to cause overlapping authorities that can hinder the law enforcement process.
Soedeson also emphasized that the discussion of the National Police and Prosecutor’s Bills needs to be expedited because both are included in the 2025 Priority National Legislation Program (Prolegnas). With the revision of the Criminal Procedure Code which is already in the early stages of discussion, adjusting regulations related to the authority of law enforcement officers is crucial to ensure balance in the criminal justice system.
He hopes that the Polri Bill can be discussed immediately after the revision of the Criminal Procedure Code is completed, so that there is no inequality in the application of the law in the field. A timely legislative process that is carried out by considering various perspectives from stakeholders will ensure that the results of the revised law can be implemented effectively in the field.
By making openness a benchmark, it is hoped that each stage of discussion can be actively followed by the public and produce regulations that reflect the interests of the wider community.
Efforts to increase public involvement in the legislative process can also be carried out by opening various discussion forums and public consultations to accommodate various aspirations that develop in society.
Transparency in legislation is not only an indicator of public trust in the government and the DPR, but also a control mechanism for policies to be implemented.
With the guarantee of transparency, all forms of speculation and uncertainty regarding the revision of the Police Law can be minimized. Therefore, the government and the DPR must adhere to this principle in every step of the discussion so that the resulting policy truly meets the needs of law and justice in Indonesia.
In the long term, transparency in the legislative process will contribute to increasing public trust in state institutions and strengthening the legitimacy of each policy produced. (*)
*) National Political Analyst – Indonesian Democracy Study Forum
