POLICE GENERAL'S APPOINTMENT AS ACTING WEST JAVA GOVERNOR STIRS CONTROVERSY by Fardah

Jakarta, June 21, 2018 (Antara) - Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo's decision to install Commissioner General of Police M. Iriawan as West Java acting governor has courted controversy despite the minister's assurance that Iriawan's appointment is in line with existing regulations.

         After studying the appointment, the State Secretariat reached a conclusion that it does not violate any laws, so President Joko Widodo issued a decree on the appointment of Iriawan, Jakarta's former police chief, according to Kumolo.

         The minister installed Iriawan as the acting governor of West Java Province in Bandung, West Java, on June 18, 2018.

         Iriawan, concurrently main secretary of the Indonesian Resilience Institute, succeeded Governor Ahmad Heryawan, whose term of office ended on June 13, 2018.

         His inauguration was based on Presidential Decree No 106/P of 2018 on the honorary dismissal of the governor and deputy governor of West Java for the 2013-2018 term of office and the appointment of acting governor of West Java.

         The appointment of the Police commissioner general was criticized by Luthfi Andi Mutty, a member of Parliament, who opined that the decision is a violation of the existing regulations.

         "Appointing an active police general as the acting governor is a violation of at least three regulations," Mutty noted in a statement.

        As per Law No. 3 of 2002 on Indonesian Police, a police officer can hold a position outside the police after resigning from his post.

         Law No. 10 of 2016 stipulates that to fill the gubernatorial seat, the government can appoint a civil servant.

         According to Law No. 5 of 2015, military and police officers could be appointed to serve as high-ranking government officials after they resign from the military or police institutions.

         "His appointment has the potential to create suspicion owing to the police background of one of the candidates in the upcoming West Java gubernatorial election," Deputy House Speaker Tauffik Kurniawan stated while voicing his criticism.

         He recalled that the government had, in fact, intended to appoint active police generals as acting governors last year.

         In 2017, Minister Kumolo had stated that he would propose the appointment of two active police generals to be acting governors of West Java and North Sumatra provinces, respectively.

         The two high-ranking police officers are Inspector General Martuani Sormin for North Sumatra Province and Inspector General Mochamad Iriawan for West Java Province.  
   However, the plan was cancelled following criticism from various parties.

         Kurniawan was surprised at the sudden decision of Kumolo to install Iriawan early this week,  so he has urged the government to tender an explanation over its latest decision to go ahead with the plan that had earlier been halted.

         "The minister proceeded with the decision to install a member of the police as the acting governor. This has the potential to create suspicion," he added.

         He suggested that the minister should have instead appointed an official from his office, similar to the Jakarta gubernatorial election (pilkada) in 2017, when he had installed Director General for Regional Autonomy Sumarsono.

         West Java, along with 16 other provinces, 39 cities, and 115 districts, will hold elections on June 27 to choose new governors, mayors, and district heads, respectively.

         Meanwhile, Iriawan has called on the public to not harbor doubts over his appointment as acting governor of West Java by the president.

         He vowed to fulfill his gubernatorial tasks to the best of his abilities and maintain a neutral stance.

         "Do not harbor any doubts regarding my appointment as acting governor of West Java. I will ensure to remain neutral," he noted in a statement on June 20, 2018.

         As the acting governor, Iriawan is tasked with supervising civil servants and ensuring that they remain neutral.

         Iriawan also said that he will secure the upcoming regional head elections (pilkada) to ensure its success.

         Iriawan remarked that he had established coordination with the Regional Military Command III/Siliwangi and the West Java Police regarding security measures to be adopted during pilkada scheduled on June 27, 2018.

         "We have discussed it. Inshaa Allah (God Willing), this pilkada will be successful, smooth, and under control in accordance with the public's aspirations," he noted.

         Indonesia will hold the third pilkada in 171 regions, comprising 17 provinces, 39 municipalities, and 115 districts across the country on June 27, 2018.

         The number of eligible voters for the pilkada 2018 reaches 158 million, or some 80 percent of the total number of eligible voters for the presidential and legislative elections in 2019, which is some 197 million.

         The pilkada is believed to be one of the largest elections in the world to be held on a single day.     ***2***
(f001/INE)
EDITED BY INE

(T.F001/A/BESSR/A. Abdussalam) 21-06-2018