Stefanus Gusma, Chairman of the Central Board of Catholic Youth, views the placement of the Indonesian National Police (Polri) directly under the president as still ideal and aligned with reform spirit. He responds to National Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo's rejection of proposals to place Polri under a dedicated ministry. Gusma stresses that the priority should be enhancing Polri's performance, not structural changes.
Jakarta - Stefanus Gusma, Chairman of the Central Board of Catholic Youth, considers the direct placement of the Indonesian National Police (Polri) under the president as still ideal. This statement was made by Gusma on Monday, January 26, 2026, in response to remarks by National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo during a working meeting with the DPR RI's Commission III at the Parliament Building in Senayan. The police chief rejected proposals to place Polri under a dedicated ministry.
Gusma argues that the crucial issue now is strengthening Polri's performance and public services, including professionalism, integrity, and more transparent and accountable work patterns. "The crucial thing today is how to strengthen Polri's performance and services to the public, in terms of professionalism, integrity, and more transparent and accountable work patterns. Structural changes without performance improvements would not address the root problems," he said.
According to Gusma, shifting Polri under a ministry could lengthen the chain of command, hindering quick decision-making. "If Polri is placed under a ministry, the chain of command between the President and Polri would become longer and potentially ineffective," he stated. Moreover, it could open doors to greater political interference, disrupting law enforcement neutrality. "Placing Polri under a ministry also risks opening greater space for political intervention in police duties. This could disrupt the principle of neutrality for law enforcement officers," he added.
Gusma urges stronger internal oversight, improved human resources quality, and better public service systems within Polri. He emphasizes that true reform aims to make Polri more professional and trusted by the public. Currently, Polri ranks among the top three most trusted institutions in public surveys. "Reform is not about moving structures, but ensuring Polri becomes more professional, trusted by the public, and truly present to serve the community," he concluded.
