TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Comr. Gen. Tito Karnavian, the sole candidate for the Chief of National Police (Polri) position said that he will focus his attention to achieving cultural reform in Polri. Tito asserted that for the past 18 years, Polri's efforts to reform itself has not reached its peak, resulting in low public confidence towards the institution.
"The reform will focus on dealing with eradicating corrupt, profligate and consumptive [behavior]," Tito said during the fit and proper test at the Parliamentary Complex in Jakarta on Thursday, June 23, 2016. In addition, Tito promised to change police officers' manners in dealing with the public.
Tito said that carrying out cultural reform in Polri begins from its budget aspect. Tito stated that current budget allocation in Polri revealed that it is not a good institution. Currently, according to Tito, 62 percent of Polri’s budget is spent for employee expenses, while the other 28 and 10 percent are spent for operational expenses and capital expenses, respectively.
"It shows that much of [Polri's] money is spent for paying salary," Tito said.
In order to lower employee expenses, Tito planned to employ strict recruitment process by only replacing retired Polri officers instead of using the old ratio-based recruitment system.
AHMAD FAIZ