JAKARTA. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo may visit the House of Representatives to explain his decision to nominate Comr. Gen. Badrodin Haiti for the post of police chief as the House has been dragging on a confirmation hearing to install Badrodin.
Most party factions at the House have refused to discuss Badrodin’s nomination until Jokowi himself provides an official explanation for canceling the nomination of an earlier candidate, Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan, and replacing him with Badrodin, who is currently the National Police’s acting chief.
The House has scheduled a consultation meeting with Jokowi on Wednesday to discuss the nomination.
Luhut Binsar Panjaitan, Jokowi’s chief of staff, said on Tuesday that “it can happen; let’s wait for it [Jokowi’s decision on whether to come to the House].”
Luhut said there would be nothing wrong with Jokowi deciding to explain his move to the House himself.
If the House felt the explanation in a recent official letter was not enough, Luhut added, “he [Jokowi] can explain it over a cup of tea. Why bother?”
“Our President is a relaxed person; he has no burden [to attend such a meeting at the House]. He says he is doing the best for this country,” Luhut said at the State Palace.
Jokowi earlier sent a letter to the House, informing members of the annulment of Budi’s nomination due to public controversy and replacing him with Badrodin as the new candidate.
The lawmakers have argued that an additional explanation from the President is needed because the official letter also mentioned Budi’s status as a suspect in a graft case as another consideration in withdrawing his bid.
In fact, a pretrial ruling annulled Budi’s suspect status although the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has resumed an investigation into the case.
Luhut said Jokowi would explain that he has the prerogative to annul Budi’s nomination and the Palace was optimistic that the House would understand.
“I believe, with the wisdom of all leaders, a good solution will be reached,” Luhut said.
According to the National Police Law, the president has the right to nominate a National Police chief, which should be confirmed by the House.
Should the House fail to respond to a nomination request within 20 days, the nominee is automatically officiated as police chief.
House Deputy Speaker Agus Hermanto of the Democratic Party claimed Jokowi had confirmed that he “would come to discuss Badrodin’s nomination, among other agenda items.”
Another deputy speaker, Fadli Zon, said “the President must come; if he sends representatives, it is not a consultation meeting.”
Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno previously said that Jokowi himself might come to explain his move to lawmakers, should it be needed.
Tedjo also revealed a plan to form a team to discuss the matter with the lawmakers.
He said the government expected that the team would start communicating with the House soon after its formation this week.
According to Tedjo, he or other related ministers may be included in the team.
The House has said the team would also attend a discussion about the National Police chief nomination earlier on Wednesday.
House Deputy Speaker Taufik Kurniawan of the National Mandate Party (PAN) said it was indeed the President’s prerogative to nominate a police chief, but, at the same time, the House had a role to approve or reject it.
However, State Secretary Pratikno refused on Tuesday to confirm whether or not the President himself would visit the House to give an explanation on the issue, but said that the related ministers were “waiting for [his decision] within one or two days”.
Pratikno said the government had several times discussed the House’s demands. (Ina Parlina and Margareth S. Aritonang)
