TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto has decided that the Indonesian National Police (Polri) will remain directly under the president rather than be placed under a ministry.
The stance was conveyed during a meeting with the Police Reform Commission at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. Following the discussion, the commission said Prabowo rejected proposals to establish either a security ministry or a dedicated police ministry.
“The position of the National Police remains unchanged, directly under the president,” said Yusril Ihza Mahendra, a member of the Police Reform Commission and Coordinating Minister for Legal Affairs, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections.
He added that the government has no plans to create a new ministry for the police or to place the institution under any existing ministry, such as the Home Affairs Ministry.
Meanwhile, Police Reform Commission chairman Jimly Asshiddiqie said the panel itself did not recommend placing the police under a ministry.
“We agreed not to propose the establishment of a new ministry,” Jimly said.
He explained that the commission concluded a police ministry would likely bring more drawbacks than benefits. “The president asked earlier, and we explained that our conclusion is that the disadvantages outweigh the benefits, so we decided not to propose it,” he added.
The commission completed its recommendations in February 2026, following roughly three months of study, but only presented them to the president in early May.
The Police Reform Commission was established after calls for reform intensified following mass protests in late August 2025, when various groups accused the police of abusing their authority in handling demonstrations.
The protests left ten people dead, including an online motorcycle taxi driver, Affan Kurniawan, who was killed after being struck by a Mobile Brigade tactical vehicle on Pejompongan Street in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, on August 28, 2025.
During a meeting with civil society figures from the Nation’s Conscience Movement in September 2025, Prabowo expressed willingness to pursue police reform. He formally established the reform commission the following month.
Dani Aswara contributed to the writing of this article.
Read: Prabowo Urges Campuses to Help Local Govts Tackle Key Issues
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Today's Top 3 News: Floods Hit 55 Neighborhood Units, Three Roads in West and South Jakarta
2 jam lalu
Here is the list of the top 3 news on Tempo English today.
Why There Were Two Labor Rallies on May Day 2026
6 jam lalu
May Day 2026 demonstrations in Jakarta split into two locations. Prabowo Subianto even got involved in matter of souvenirs.
Prabowo Urges Campuses to Help Local Govts Tackle Key Issues
7 jam lalu
In response to Prabowo Subianto's directive, the ministry will consolidate universities nationwide into expert teams to support local authorities.
An Instant Way to Co-opt Workers
11 jam lalu
Prabowo is worried about the labor protests. He pretends to stand up for the common people.
Amien Rais Video Case: Minister Urges No Charges Over Prabowo-Teddy Claims
14 jam lalu
Minister of Law and Human Rights Natalius Pigai asks the Ministry of Communication and Digital not to report Amien Rais to the police following his statements about Teddy Indra Wijaya
Russian Ambassador Calls to Accelerate Cooperation with Indonesia
22 jam lalu
Russian Ambassador Sergei Tolchenov urges expanding Russian products in Indonesia and accelerating strategic infrastructure projects.
Prabowo Adds Deputy to National Counter Terrorism Agency
23 jam lalu
President Prabowo has added a deputy to the National Counter Terrorism Agency (BNPT) structure.
Prabowo Signs Regulation on National Action Plan Against Extremism
1 hari lalu
Prabowo sets this regulation as a guideline for ministries, institutions, and local governments in countering extremism.
Prabowo Inaugurates Indonesia's Consulate General in Chengdu
1 hari lalu
Prabowo signs the Presidential Regulation on the Indonesian Consulate General in Chengdu on March 2, 2026.
Village Development Sidelined for Free Meal Program, Residents Lament
1 hari lalu
Residents of Labbo Village in Bantaeng Regency, South Sulawesi are feeling the impact of village budget cuts due to the Free Nutritious Meal program.
