Indonesia Yet to Name Police Chief Candidate

The government has yet to submit a name of National Police (Polri) chief candidate to the House of Representatives (DPR). Deputy House Speaker Pramono Anung said at the Parliament building here on Monday that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had yet to submit to the DPR the name of the National Police chief candidate.

"The DPR has not officially received the name of prospective National Police chief from President Yudhoyono," Pramono said.

But he added that the House leader had communicated with officials at Presidential Palace in relation with the matter.

"The House of Representatives has made communication with the minister/state secretary," said the former secretary general of the Indonesian Democratic Party for Struggle (PDI-P).

Pramono expressed hope that the DPR would receive the name of the candidate for the National Police chief post by this week.

"We hope to receive the name this week, or before Thursday September 23, 2010. Otherwise it would slow down the process of fit and proper test," Pramono said.

He said the incumbent Police Chief Gen Bambang Hendarso Danuri would finish his term in office in the middle of October this year. Meanwhile, presidential spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha said President Yudhoyono would probably not send the name of National Police chief candidate to the DPR on Monday.

"It’s still not sure today. The president is careful in this matter because it has a wide range of interest but it does not mean that the president is wishy-washy," Julian said.