DPR Asks Police Chief Tito Karnavian about Plan to Retire Early

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - In a hearing between the House of Representatives (DPR) Legal Commission and the National Police Chief General Tito Karnavian, a member of Golkar faction, Adies Kadir, asked about the rumor that the top cop would retire early.

Adies said that he was curious about the rumor. "We want some explanation, whether it’s a hoax or true," Adies said yesterday at the DPR building in Senayan, Central Jakarta.

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Tito Karnavian said that Budiman Tanuredjo, an editor of local media Kompas, was the first one to ask about the plan. Tito said that he does have plan to retire early to keep the organization fresh and for health reasons.

"The police chief job is the most stressful in the world. The National Police is the second largest police department in the world after China. China is a socialist country, it can [rule] with an ‘iron hand’. Since we are an open democracy, security issues are rampant. It’s not good for my health," Tito said.

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Tito also clarified for the DPR that he does not intend to personally participate in political activities if the plan to retire early does materialize. He explained that he wishes to teach in Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

"I will not join any political party as well, let alone running for president. I may become an academician, at my alma mater in Singapore," Tito Karnavian said.

PUTRI THALIAH | KSW