REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Luthfi Andi Mutty, a member of Parliament, opined that Mochammad Iriawan's appointment as acting governor of West Java is a violation of the existing regulations. Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo installed Police Commissioner General Mochamad Iriawan as the acting governor of West Java Province, Monday.

"Appointing an active police general as the acting governor is a violation of at least three regulations," Mutty noted in a statement here, Monday.

As per Law No. 3 of 2002 on Indonesian Police, a police officer can hold a position outside the police after resigning from his post. Law No. 10 of 2016 stipulates that to fill the gubernatorial seat, the government can appoint a civil servant.

According to Law No. 5 of 2015, military and police officers could be appointed to serve as high-ranking government officials after they resign from the military or police institutions.

Iriawan, concurrently main secretary of the Indonesian Resilience Institute, succeeded Governor Ahmad Heryawan, whose term of office ended on June 13, 2018.

His inauguration was based on Presidential Decree No 106/P of 2018 on the honorary dismissal of the governor and deputy governor of West Java for the 2013-2018 term of office and the appointment of acting governor of West Java.

Among those present at the inauguration ceremony were Ahmad Heryawan, who was the West Java governor for 2008-2013 and 2013-2018 terms, and Ineu Purwadewi Sundari, speaker of the West Java Legislative Council.

Meanwhile, Deputy House Speaker Tauffik Kurniawan expressed criticism over Commissioner General Iriawan being installed as the acting governor of West Java. "His appointment has the potential to create suspicion owing to the police background of one of the candidates in the upcoming West Java gubernatorial election," he noted in a written statement.

He stated that the issue related to the police background of the acting governor first surfaced at the end of last year, but it was later sidelined due to disputes and rejection from some quarters, drawing appreciation from all parties.

However, it finally happened. Hence, the minister of home affairs must give a full explanation regarding the decision, he remarked.

"The minister continued with his decision to install a member of the police as the acting governor. This has the potential to create suspicion," he added.

He explained that the minister should have rather appointed an official from his office, similar to the Jakarta election in 2017, when he had installed Director General for Regional Autonomy Sumarsono.

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