President Jokowi Tells Police to Provide Better Service

President Jokowi gives directives to the Indonesian National Police at the State Palace in Jakarta, Friday (10/14). (Photo by: BPMI of Presidential Secretariat)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, Friday (10/14), gave five directives to the high-ranking officials of the Indonesian National Police (Polri) at the State Palace in Jakarta.

First, the President ordered the police to handle public complaints against the police institution.

“29.7 percent of the people’s complaints against the police is about illegal fees. Please pay attention on personnel that collect illegal fees. Do refrain from being authoritarian. Do avoid repressive approaches. On the third place at 19.2 percent, finding fault. And the fourth, lavish lifestyle, which I have mentioned before,” he said.

According to the President, the police are law enforcement apparatus that are the closest to the people and have the most interaction with the people. Therefore, the President also ordered high-ranking officials of the police to always remind their personnel to serve the people and maintain safety and security for the people.

“Second, the people’s safety and security—this is about perception. The people’s safety and security have weakened or been lost. No matter what, the police are the people’s protector. Please serve the people even for the little things. If the people lose something, the police must respond fast so that they feel protected and safe,” he said.

Third, the Head of State ordered the police to remain united as an institution and to maintain solidarity with the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI). It is important as the country is entering a political year and the general election process has begun since last July.

“You must show solidarity within the Indonesian National Police. When it is done, the solidarity of the police and the TNI will reduce political tensions in the future. Solidarity. You must be sensitive of the political situation because you are the highest-ranking officials in your respective regions. You must have a sense of politics. Even if you are not involved in politics, you must understand political issues because we are entering a political year,” he said, adding that if the TNI and the police are united, the country will have security and political stability.

Fourth, the President ordered the police to realize their institution’s vision and to be assertive in implementing their policies. The President instructed regional police chiefs to not be afraid and to work according to the standard operating procedures and the law.

Finally, the President urged the police to strictly enforce law. Hence, the President ordered the Chief of the National Police to eradicate online gambling and drug trafficking networks to regain the declining public confidence in the police.

“I have ordered the Chief of the National Police to eradicate online gambling. I need not talk much. You are all aware about this order and law enforcement related to drug trafficking. This way, the police will regain public confidence,” he said.

Closing his remarks, the President also ordered the police to design a strategy for public communication that is good and fast in responding to an issue or event while reminding them that this is the era of social media and events can be shared within minutes and seconds.

“Once again, this is the era of social media. Events are shared within seconds, within minutes, not within days. Once there is a small incident and you do not handle or communicate it well because you think that it is small, it will be big very fast and it will be difficult to resolve,” he remarked. (FID/UN) (DH/MMB)