Waseso has been reported to replace Commissioner General Anang Iskandar as chief of the National Anti-Narcotic Agency (BNN), while Iskandar will take over his post.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Vice President Jusuf Kalla made assurance here on Friday that the planned replacement of Chief of the National Polices Crime Investigation Department, Commissioner General Budi Waseso, was not a political move.
"No, it is not political. It is an entirely professional decision," he stated after giving directives at a working meeting of the Ministry of Public Works and Housing here on Friday.
He remarked that the transfer of posts in the police force and other institutions, including ministries, was a common practice.
He clarified that Wasesos transfer was also not done because his performance was bad.
"Narcotic crime rates are also high. So, it will also be good for him to be stationed there," he pointed out.
Waseso has been reported to replace Commissioner General Anang Iskandar as chief of the National Anti-Narcotic Agency (BNN), while Iskandar will take over his post.
National Police Chief General Badrodin Haiti has confirmed that the presidential decrees on Commissioner General Iskandars termination as BNN chief and the appointment of Waseso as the new BNN chief have been issued.
He said Iskandar would retire next year, but it was acceptable as the replacement could be done after five or eight months or even a year.
Waseso has taken various controversial actions soon after his appointment as intelligence chief, including arresting former KPK commissioners Abraham Samad and Bambang Widjojanto and naming other KPK officials suspects.
He recently raided the headquarters of state-owned port company PT Pelindo II.
Waseso denied claims that he has been ousted by being appointed as BNN chief.
"I am not ousted and what is clear is that I am promoted, which means I received a reward," he noted at the National Police Headquarters here on Friday.
He expressed readiness to be stationed anywhere and vowed to always work to the best of his abilities.
"Let us just wait and watch what I will do at BNN," he affirmed.
He considered working at BNN to be a challenge since he would be dealing with narcotic syndicates who are as vicious as those causing corruption.
He expressed belief that Commissioner General Iskandar would continue to settle the cases that he had investigated so far.
"My replacement is my senior who has better experience than me, and so, he will perform better than me," he remarked.
General Haiti stated that the swapping of the posts between the two was scheduled to take place next week.
He said Commissioner General Waseso had performed well as the intelligence chief, and so, his abilities need to be tested in other fields.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2015
