Jakarta –
A narrative suggesting the Indonesian National Police was intentionally placed under ministerial control to undermine President Prabowo Subianto is gaining traction, according to DPR RI Commission III Chairman Habiburokhman. The claim, voiced on Sunday, January 2, 2026, alleges that opponents of Prabowo are deliberately spreading this idea.
A Power Play or a Necessary Reform?
The debate over the National Police’s position within the government is intensifying, with accusations of political maneuvering flying.
- Habiburokhman believes the narrative of placing the National Police under the ministry is a deliberate attempt to weaken President Prabowo.
- He argues that direct presidential control of the police is crucial for effective leadership and a streamlined chain of command.
- The claim centers on the idea that those historically opposed to Prabowo are driving this narrative.
- Habiburokhman frames the current structure as a commitment to reform, rooted in the 1945 Constitution and MPR decree.
- He criticizes the narrative as misguided, arguing it addresses the wrong issues—individual misconduct rather than systemic structure.
“It could be that the narrative of the National Police under the ministry is a narrative that was deliberately created to weaken President Prabowo and also the Indonesian state,” Habiburokhman stated. He contends that removing direct presidential oversight would diminish the president’s authority and complicate policy implementation.
“If the National Police is not controlled directly by the President, the President’s power will be significantly reduced and the chain of command will be much longer. It will be more difficult for President Prabowo to convey the direction of police policy,” he said.
Habiburokhman further asserted that proponents of this narrative aren’t genuine supporters of Prabowo’s government. “It is not surprising that the narrative of the National Police being under the ministry was not put forward by President Prabowo’s supporters who sincerely want to make President Prabowo’s government a success, but by those who have been or at least have been at odds with President Prabowo. This narrative is also ahistorical and misguided,” he added.
A Historical Perspective on Police Authority
According to Habiburokhman, the current arrangement—with the National Police reporting directly to the President—is a deliberate step toward reform. He points to Article 30 paragraph (4) of the 1945 Constitution and MPR Decree Number VII/MPR/2000 as foundational support for this structure. This, he argues, represents a correction from a past where the police were seen primarily as a tool of repression.
“It is said to be ahistorical because the current position of the National Police under the President is a commitment to reform which is precisely stated in Article 30 paragraph (4) of the 1945 Constitution and TAP MPR Number VII/MPR/2000. This is the result of a formulation by our leaders at the beginning of the reform era as a form of correction to previous practices where the National Police had the status of merely a repressive apparatus for power,” he said.
Habiburokhman also criticized the proposed solution of placing the National Police under a ministry, arguing it fails to address the core issue. He believes the focus should be on addressing individual misconduct within the force, not restructuring the entire organization.
“It is said to be a misguided narrative because there is no relevance between the matters in question and the solutions offered. What is widely questioned is the culture of individuals who often commit violations, but the solution offered is repositioning them under the ministry,” he said.
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