TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Hasto Kristiyanto, the acting secretary general of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), said that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has an obligation to inaugurate Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan as the National Police chief. According to Hasto, Jokowi has the right to propose National Police chief candidates to undergo the fit and proper test before the House of Representatives.
“If a candidate passed the test, then he must be inaugurated. Factions [at the House of Representatives] have clearly made up their minds,” Hasto said on the sidelinee of Car-Free Day event at Deutsche Bank Jakarta on Sunday, March 29, 2015.
Earlier, Jokowi has withdrawn Budi Gunawan’s nomination and replace the candidate with Comr. Gen. Badrodin Haiti. The State Palace hopes that the House of Representatives will arrange the fit and proper test for Badrodin after the recess. During the plenary session last week, PDIP’s politician Masinton Pasaribu had questioned Jokowi’s move to scrap Budi’s nomination.
In response to the question regarding PDIP chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri’s instruction over Badrodin’s nomination, Hasto said that it was not his party’s domain.
State Secretary Minister Pratikno said on Thursday, March 26, 2015 that he would wait for President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to discuss House’s request over Badrodin’s nomination. The House of Representatives earlier questioned Jokowi’s decision to cancel Budi Gunawan’s nomination due to his status as a suspect. The lawmakers then threatened not to follow up Badrodin’s nomination.
MUHAMMAD MUHYIDDIN