Prabowo Vows to Reform Indonesian Police & Military, Boost Public Trust

Hambalang, Bogor – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has reaffirmed his commitment to sweeping reforms within the country’s law enforcement agencies, including the National Police (Polri) and the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), as a cornerstone of his administration’s broader national transformation agenda.

Speaking during a dialogue with journalists and senior figures at his residence in Hambalang on Sunday, March 22, 2026, President Subianto emphasized the necessity of a robust and trustworthy legal system as foundational to a strong and successful nation. “The country needs law enforcement agencies that are professional, clean, not corrupt, and full of integrity. That is absolute,” he stated, according to a government press release.

The President’s pledge comes as his administration seeks to bolster public confidence in institutions tasked with upholding the rule of law. He acknowledged the need to address instances of misconduct within Polri and TNI, stressing that even high-ranking officials would not be exempt from accountability. “Perhaps some individuals, due to their power, believe they can act with impunity, but that tarnishes the reputation of the hundreds of thousands of other police officers,” Prabowo said.

Subianto indicated a willingness to consider recommendations from the Committee for Acceleration of Police Reform, led by Jimly Asshiddiqie, but cautioned against simply adopting proposals without careful evaluation. He outlined a pragmatic approach, prioritizing the swift implementation of feasible reforms while deferring more complex changes for further consideration. “We will study which recommendations can be implemented quickly, and we will do so. Those that cannot be implemented immediately, we may postpone. But all decisions will be made rationally,” he explained.

The President also revealed that his administration has already taken decisive action against corrupt officials within the armed forces, confirming the dismissal and prosecution of several high-ranking officers. “You can notice how many generals, three-star and two-star officers, we have dismissed and handed over to the prosecutor’s office,” he stated.

Beyond personnel changes, Prabowo highlighted the importance of strengthening oversight mechanisms to prevent illegal activities from going undetected. He questioned the effectiveness of current monitoring systems, citing examples of illegal mining operations that appear to have escaped the attention of local military and police authorities. “How can there be illegal mining when the Babinsa [village supervisory non-commissioned officer] doesn’t know, the Danramil [district military commander] doesn’t know, the Kodim [district military command] doesn’t know, the Dandim doesn’t know?” he asked.

President Subianto stressed that reform is not limited to Polri and TNI, but extends to all state institutions involved in law enforcement. He emphasized the need for these institutions to proactively address internal issues before facing external intervention. He offered a period of self-correction, stating, “I first aim for to give each institution the opportunity to clean itself up. Can you fix yourself? If you fix yourself, I will give you the opportunity.”

The President’s comments align with recent statements emphasizing his commitment to strengthening the foundations of the Indonesian state, as reported by Kompas.com and other news outlets. The administration has yet to announce a specific timeline for the implementation of the proposed reforms, leaving the details of the overhaul to be determined.