Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – President Joko Widodo, or Jokowi, said the dismissal of Budi Gunawan from his position as the Head of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) was upon the request of President-elect Prabowo Subianto.
"The dismissal has been discussed with Prabowo. It was upon the request of Pak Prabowo," said Jokowi in a press release broadcasted on the State Secretariat's YouTube channel on Wednesday, October 16, 2024.
Jokowi mentioned that the dismissal of Budi Gunawan as the head of BIN was an administrative matter. The former BIN chief was dismissed because the new head of the agency, Muhammad Herindra, will be inaugurated alongside Prabowo's cabinet members on October 21.
The Indonesian Presidential Palace previously confirmed that President Jokowi has sent a letter to the House of Representatives (DPR), dated October 10, 2024. The letter contains a request for consideration in the dismissal and appointment of the BIN Chief.
The letter refers to the provisions of Article 36 paragraph 1 and paragraph 2 of Law No. 17 of 2011 concerning State Intelligence. "The next process is within the authority of the House of Representatives," said the Coordinator of the President's Special Staff, Ari Dwipayana, in a brief message to Tempo on Tuesday, October 15, 2024.
In a copy of the document requesting considerations for the replacement and appointment of the Head of BIN viewed by Tempo, Jokowi proposed the name Muhammad Herindra to the House of Representatives. "In order to obtain the consideration of the Indonesian House of Representatives, the dismissal and appointment will be determined by the Presidential Decree," reads the letter signed by President Jokowi.
Meanwhile, the Special Advisory Team at DPR said that the Deputy Minister of Defense, Muhammad Herindra, passed the eligibility and fitness test as the candidate for the head of BIN. Prabowo's deputy at his ministry was the sole candidate proposed by Jokowi.
"As a result of the advisory team's decision, we accept Mr. Muhammad Herindra as the sole candidate for the head of BIN," said the House Speaker, Puan Maharani, who also led the fit and proper test on Wednesday, October 16.
Budi Gunawan is close to the Chairperson of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, Megawati Soekarnoputri. He was an aide when Megawati served as president. Budi's name was previously mentioned as one of the potential figures to join the Cabinet of the elected President, Prabowo Subianto.
Meanwhile, Muhammad Herindra is a former high-ranking officer (pati) of the Indonesian Army. He has been the Deputy Minister of Defense since December 23, 2020. He graduated from the Military Academy in 1987 from the infantry branch (Kopassus). Herindra is one of the figures summoned by Prabowo to Kertanegara yesterday.
– Daniel A. Fajri And Annisa Febiola contributed to the writing of this article.
Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/1929306/jokowi-dismissal-of-bin-chief-budi-gunawan-upon-prabowos-reques