The Chief of the National Police (Kapolri) General Idham Azis will enter mandatory retirement age in January 2021. A succession process will have to begin at the end of this year—perhaps, in October or November 2020, should President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo decide not to extend Idham’s term for another year. Talks and speculations have started.
The Indonesian Police Watch (IPW) set its eyes on a number of recently-promoted police generals as potential police chief candidates. Neta S Pane, the presidium chairman of IPW, recently said that Insp. Gen. Ahmad Luthfi could be the one President Jokowi is preparing to take over the leadership from Idham Azis.
Ahmad Luthfi has just been made the new chief of the Central Java Police. He replaced Comr. Gen. Rycko Almeza Dahniel, who is the new chief of the National Police’s Intelligence & Security Body (Kabaintelkam POLRI). Achmad is the first non-Police Academy (Akpol) general to have become the regional police chief. Central Java, moreover, is the third largest province in the country.
Achmad didn’t graduate from the Akpol. He graduated from the so-called Military Officer Voluntary Academy (Sepa Milsuk) in 1989. He was a classmate of Lt. Gen. (ret) dr. Terawan Agus Putranto, who is now the Minister of Health. Since the National Police (POLRI) separated from the Indonesian Military (TNI), the Sepa Milsuk changed its name to the entrance test of police officer for scholars (PPSS).
Some, including Neta and his IPW, believe that Achmad Luthfi is a part of the Gang of Solo, which consists of a number of police generals from Solo, or those who once served in Solo, whose career have skyrocketed in Jokowi’s term. Solo or Surakarta is the hometown of Jokowi.
Achmad Luthfi’s career skyrocketed since he served as the chief of the Solo Police. At the time, he was the one responsible for providing security for the wedding ceremony of Jokowi’s daughter Kahiyang Ayu, who tied a knot with Bobby Afif Nasution on November 8, 2017. From there, Achmad was promoted to vice chief of the Central Java Police. Later on, he was promoted to chief of the Central Java Police.
So, one can understand why Neta and his IPW made such a speculation about Achmad Luthfi’s future. Born in Surabaya, East Java on November 22, 1966, Achmad will be 54 years old by November 2020. So he still has more than 4 years left in active duty before entering mandatory retirement in 2024.
Still, the fact that he hadn’t graduated from the Akpol might be a roadblock for him. Non-Akpol issue aside, Achmad Luthfi isn’t the only potential candidate. Earlier, the IPW also mentioned three other potential candidates. They are (1) Comr. Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo, the chief of the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Division (Kabareskrim); (2) Comr. Gen. Agus Andrianto, the head of the National Police’s Security Maintenance Agency (Kabarham); and (3) Insp. Gen. Nana Sujana, the chief of the Jakarta Metro Police.
Other than the said four names, there are four other generals that should be considered: (1) Comr. Gen. Gatot Eddy Pramono, the current Police vice chief (Wakapolri); (2) Comr. Gen. Rycko Amelza Dahniel, the new Kabaintelkam POLRI; (3) Comr. Gen. Agung Budi Maryoto, the new head of the National Police’s General Supervision Inspectorate (Irwasum); and (4) Comr. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar, the new chief of the National Counter-Terrorism Agency (BNPT).
By Haryanto Suharman
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