President Jokowi Nominates Police General as Chief of Intelligence Agency

Jakarta, 01 Dzulhijjah 1437/03 September 2016 (MINA) – President Joko Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi, has solely nominated police general Budi Gunawan to head Indonesia’s intelligence agency, a minister said on Friday.

“I’m submitting a letter from the president to the House of Representatives speaker, in which he states his nomination for the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) ,” Antara quoted State Secretary Minister Pratikno as telling reporters in Jakarta.

The minister added that the reason to replace the agency’s incumbent leader, Sutiyoso, was mere structural reform.

Experts have previously criticized Sutiyoso, who has been in charge of the agency for a little more than a year, for failing to properly tackle increasing terrorism threats and incidents in the country, particularly during the attacks claimed by Islamic State (IS) supporters in the country’s capital Jakarta in January.

The House is expected to carry out a fit-and-proper test soon before Budi gets inaugurated for the new position. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)