TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Budi Gunawan was among the guests of honor invited to witness Megawati Soekarnoputri receiving an honorary doctorate degree from Padjadjaran University in Bandung last week. Budi, currently the National Police deputy chief, sat in the front row along with Vice President Jusuf Kalla, former Vice President Boediono and Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo, listening to Megawati's acceptance speech.
Midway through her oration, Megawati, who was explaining the difficulties she faced trying to resolve legal issues pertaining to the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA), mentioned two people by name. They were Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yasonna Laoly and Budi Gunawan. "I noticed that the deputy police is here," said Megawati, acknowledging Budi's presence. He was Megawati's aide-de-camp when she was president from July 2001 to October 2004. So it was not unusual for the police commissioner general to be attending a ceremonial event honoring Megawati. However, it was a strange coincidence that the event in Bandung happened when National Police Chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti's term of office ends next July.
The intended impression of the politically laden event became clear when Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Secretary-General Hasto Kristiyanto, who attended the event, declared his rejection of plans to delay Badrodin's retirement. "The Indonesian people must accept systemic regeneration," said Hasto, further reinforcing PDI-P's support for Budi Gunawan.
Hasto is aware that the selection of the next police chief is the prerogative of the President but he feels that Budi Gunawan is the appropriate choice. Hasto cited the terrorist attack that took place in front of the Sarinah Department Store in Jakarta mid-January, pointing out that Budi was the only commander to arrive early at the scene and quickly coordinate a response, which restored public calm in Jakarta. Handling the downtown terrorist attack demonstrated Budi's capacity as someone who is worthy of occupying the top position in the police force. "It is also fitting for a new generation to take over," said Hasto.
Similar support came from other PDI-P politicians in the legislature. Junimart Girsang, a member of the House of Representatives (DPR) legal affairs commission, said that the party had asked President Joko Widodo to provide a clear reason why he wanted to extend Badrodin's term of office. The PDI-P, according to Junimart, felt that Budi Gunawan is a highly skilled replacement for Badrodin. "The PDI-P supports Budi. He is the right man," he said.
Even before this public support, PDI-P legislators had stridently voiced their backing of Budi Gunawan, including influential people like Masinton Pasaribu and Trimedya Panjaitan. According to Trimedya, there was no need to extend Badrodin's term of office. "There are still many other generals," he said. He stressed that there had never been a National Police chief whose term was extended.
The political mood being created by these PDI-P politicians contrasts with reports coming out of the Presidential Palace, namely that President Widodo does have the option of extending Badrodin's term. That policy choice, according to one person whom the President asked to speak with, was meant to block Budi Gunawan's chances of taking over as the next National Police chief. "Teuku Umar (a reference to the street where Megawati's house is located) keeps pressing for BG (Budi Gunawan) to get it," he said.
The palace official said that Jokowi had already foreseen the strong push for Budi Gunawan, saying that the President was looking for a way to prevent it. This includes scrutinizing the regulations on extending Badrodin's term of office. "Someone has been tasked to do it," he said. Clearly, this puts Jokowi in a difficult situation, given the likely impact on his relationship with Megawati and the PDI-P, which of late had begun to improve.
The bad blood between the President and the PDI-P chairperson began when he initially supported Budi Gunawan as candidate to replace the then police chief, Gen. Sutarman, back in January 2015. Budi was selected from among nine three-star police generals whom the National Police Commission had recommended. Surprisingly, Jokowi chose Budi, who had often been suspected of owning questionable bank accounts worth tens of billions of rupiah. Those suspicions eventually led the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to indict Budi for corruption.
Nevertheless, in mid-January 2015, the DPR went ahead and approved Budi as the next police chief and urged Jokowi to appoint him immediately. Mindful of the growing public protests, however, Jokowi never appointed Budi. Instead, the President withdrew his nomination of Budi and appointed Badrodin Haiti as acting National Police chief.
Meanwhile, Budi filed a pretrial motion on grounds of mistaken investigation by the KPK aiming for an acquittal. PDI-P politicians still wanted Budi to be appointed if the verdict favored him. Budi did win his pretrial motion but Jokowi did not appoint him. Eventually, Badrodin Haiti was officially installed as the new police chief.
Budi Gunawan has not said much since then, avoiding reporters. During a break in the launching of the book Megawati Dalam Catatan Wartawan: Menangis & Tertawa Bersama Rakyat (Megawati in a Reporter's Notes: Crying and Laughing With the People), at the National Archives on March 23, Tempo approached Budi Gunawan, who was among the invited guests and tried to ask him questions. But he deftly refused to answer questions about his possible candidacy for the police chief job.
As for Badrodin Haiti, he said that there had been no discussion about candidates by the Position and Rank Board in the police force. But if the President asks for a list of names, he was ready to submit a roster of qualified candidates. He further said that the Professional and Security Division as well as the Human Resources Staff had records on the histories of those who met the criteria. "We have complete data on their career paths, as well as their shortcomings and strengths," said Badrodin.
Sunudyantoro, Dewi Suci Rahayu, Ghoida Rahmah (Jakarta), Aminudin A.S. (Bandung)
