Marguerite Afra Sapiie, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has sent a letter to the House of Representatives nominating National Police deputy chief Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan to replace Sutiyoso as the country's spy chief.

State Secretary Pratikno delivered Jokowi's letter to the House on Friday, claiming that the replacement plan would support regeneration at the National Intelligence Agency (BIN).

House Speaker Ade Komarudin said the House would immediately process the nomination. House Commission I overseeing defense and foreign affairs would carry out screenings for Budi, he said.

"Our plan is to follow up the matter next week and we will hold a meeting with the leaders of political factions on Monday to decide on further details," Ade told journalists at the House complex.

Retired Army general and former Jakarta governor Sutiyoso has lead the agency since July 8 last year.

Budi is a close associate of President Jokowi's patron and chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Megawati Soekarnoputri. He found himself at the center of controversy in January last year after Jokowi withdrew Budi's name as a National Police chief candidate even though he had passed screenings at the House.

The withdrawal came after the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) declared Budi a graft suspect. Jokowi then appointed Gen. Badrodin Haiti as National Police chief and Budi as deputy chief. (rin)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/09/02/jokowi-wants-budi-gunawan-as-spy-chief.html