NEW BIN CHIEF EXPECTED TO STRENGTHEN SYNERGY AMONG INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES By Fardah

Jakarta, Sept 13, 2016 (Antara) - September 9 has to be one of the happiest days for Budi Gunawan, who was installed as the new chief of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) and at the same time promoted to become a four-star general.

        "Alhamdulillah (Thank God), today I officially became the chief of BIN and at the same time I have been promoted to become police general. This is the mandate I have to bear," said Budi, who entered the Palace as a commissioner general, and came out as a full general after President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) installed him as the new BIN Chief.

        General Budi was appointed as the new BIN chief after securing a seal of approval from the House of Representatives (DPR) at a plenary meeting on Sept. 8.

        Better known as BG, he was earlier deputy to the national police chief, and was the sole candidate for the post of BIN chief. He had to undergo a fit and proper test at the House of Representatives (DPR) before his nomination was endorsed.

        Budi replaced Sutiyoso, the former Jakarta governor, who had held the BIN top post since July 2015.

        Jokowi's decision to appoint Budi as the agency's chief was lauded by many parties, who have seen him as a competent figure.

        The Chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Zulkifli Hasan, for instance, has described Budi as a capable officer equipped with the required experience to lead BIN.

        "Budi Gunawan is well trained and has a long experience in the police," Zulkifli said.

        He believed that Budi has the potential to make BIN perform better and reform the bureaucracy within the agency.

        Furthermore, constitutional expert Margarito believes President Jokowi has made the right choice as Budi is a man of proven abilities.

        Margarito noted that Budi's leadership of BIN will help improve the way in which emerging problems will be handled since he has built reliable networks.

        "Gunawan has an extensive network. He will definitely be able to handle any problems at home and abroad, and he is the former chief of the Regional Police of Jambi and Bali. The Provincial Police comprises of a directorate of intelligence as well as professionals and security personnel," he added.

        Another comment came from the University of Indonesia (UI)'s intelligence researcher, Ridwan Habib, who considers Budi as also the most politically competent to lead BIN.       
   Budi's nomination reflects President Widodo's mature political calculation, Ridwan pointed out.

        He hoped that Budi would create a synergy between BIN and the State Crypto Agency (Lemsaneg), which is needed to anticipate cyber crimes, particularly those carried out by foreign parties.

        "BIN should join hands with Lemsaneg in facing the challenge of cyber intelligence whose forms could be data thefts or cyber attacks," Ridwan said.

        State documents, presidential regulations and state tender announcement are prone to cyber attacks, he remarked.

        In line with the Law No. 17 Year 2011, BIN has a coordination function. Therefore, the new BIN Chief could invite other intelligence bodies to coordinate and support the work of BIN, he added.   
   Meanwhile, the Head of Communications and Information System Security Research Centre (CISSReC) Pratama D Persadha said BIN could become a leading intelligence institution in Southeast Asia if it is able to reform its system to become more modern.

        BIN still utilizes human intelligence as it has not been equipped with advanced technology, he said recently.

        "BIN needs to reform its intelligence system that focuses on searching information from the cyber world," Pratama said.

        He noted that in the digital technology era, most people, including terrorists, communicate through and are connected with the Internet.

        Threats against national security, according to Pratama, do not only come from within the country, but also from overseas.

        "The communication is carried out via the Internet, both social media and specific applications," he stated.

        In order to improve its ability, BIN should build a system and a cyber team consisting of competent IT personnel.    
   Meanwhile, Budi has vowed to improve BIN's performance in order to optimize the agency's role in the protection of national security, the Jakarta Post reported.

        Speaking before members of the DPR Commission I overseeing security and foreign affairs, he pledged to improve professionalism, objectivity and integrity f BIN, which is the country's coordinator of intelligence affairs.

        BIN should improve its performance to make a better early detection system to prevent and tackle any threats that can endanger our national security, he said, citing political tensions in the South China Sea, drug trafficking, cyber war, conflicts at bordering areas, terrorism financing and also the rapid spread of radical ideologies, as among the threats.

        Born in Surakarta, Central Java, on December 11, 1959, Budi graduated from the Police Academy in 1983, and was once adjutant of Indonesia's fifth president, Megawati Soekarnoputri, when he was senior police commissioner.

        His previous posts include police chief of Jambi Province and later the Bali Province. ***2***

(f001/INE)

EDITED BY INE
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