President Jokowi Proposes Budi Gunawan to Helm BIN

Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan

President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo has sent a letter to the House of Representatives (DPR) proposing Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan to replace the current Head of National Intelligence Agency (BIN) Sutiyoso.

The letter was handed directly by Minister of State Secretary Pratikno to the Speaker of the DPR on Friday (2/9), at the Meeting Room of the House of Representatives, Nusantara III Building, Jakarta.

“The President has proposed Budi Gunawan to replace Sutiyoso, and the next process will be conducted in the DPR before it gives its considerations,” Pratikno said in a joint press conference after a meeting with the Speaker of the DPR.

Pratikno also claimed that the replacement is merely for the sake of regeneration and that is the only reason why President Jokowi proposed Budi Gunawan.

The Minister also asserted that term of office of the Head of BIN is not limited to certain periods; thus, President’s recommendation to replace the Head BIN is reasonable.

In the meantime, Speaker of the DPR Ade Komarudin, said that after the letter is received, the DPR will immediately hold a meeting with other members to follow up the letter after the Speaker and Deputy Speakers hold a meeting with the leaders of political factions set to take place on next Monday (5/9).

The meeting is also expected to decide on the commission that will conduct a fit and proper test to Budi.

“However, according to the procedures, we will assign Commission I to conduct the fit and proper test, therefore we will decide the schedule,” Ade said.

For the record, Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan currently serves as Deputy Chief of Indonesian National Police (Polri). He was appointed in April 2015. (*/ES) (RAS/EP/YM/Naster)