The plan to strengthen BNN by upgrading its status and bringing it at par with the ministerial level will need to be seriously studied first, Fadli Zon said..Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Deputy House Speaker Fadli Zon said a careful study is needed with regard to President Joko Widodos (Jokowis) plan to issue a presidential decision (Perpres) on upgrading the status of the National Narcotics Agency (BNN)
The plan is to make the BNN status equivalent to the ministerial level.
"I agree that the problem of narcotics is important and needs to be handled seriously. The BNN should be reinforced, both in terms of institution and personnel," he said here on Tuesday.
However, the plan to strengthen it by upgrading its status and bringing it at par with the ministerial level will need to be seriously studied first.
The deputy chairman of the House of Representatives (DPR) said the main task and function of the BNN should first be made clear so no overlapping of authority happens, as that could be counterproductive at a time when efforts are being made to eliminate narcotics abuse.
"Before upgrading the BNNs status to ministerial level, the government should first look at Law No. 39/2008 on state ministries and at other relevant regulations," he said.
Fadli Zon, who is a politician of the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), said he understands that the proposal for upgrading the BNNs status reflected the governments and the nations strong wish to wage war against abuse of narcotics.
According to Fadli, the most urgent step is to ensure that the war against narcotics is effective and has a broad scope. If one of the ways to reach the goal is to increase the budget, personnel and facilities, there is no reason not to do so.
President Joko Widodo has committed to raise the status of the BNN to ministerial level due to the urgency of the battle against the drug trade.
This was confirmed by Coordinating Minister for Politics, Legal and Security Affairs, Luhut Binsar Panjaitan.
"The president is determined to improve the status of the organization of BNN. The drug problem is so huge. The BNN should deal with it," the minister said on Thursday.
With regard to the status change, he noted that the president will swear in National Narcotics Agency (BNN) head Budi Waseso as a minister.
Panjaitan added that the BNN should be reformed to motivate the agency to combat the drug trade.
"The battle against the drug trade should be supported with adequate facilities," the minister remarked.
Further, BNN head Budi Waseso explained the challenges faced by the agency in the fight against drug trafficking.
"BNN has heavy responsibilities. The population of Indonesia has reached 250 million, of which 125 million are of child-bearing age and must be protected from drugs. The BNN has 4,400 personnel," Waseso said.
Waseso added that the fact that BNN officers did not proper offices has been slowing them down as they fight the narcotics network.
He stated that the BNN head office in Jakarta is an office on rent that cannot house all the employees of the BNN.
In addition, some prisoners must be held at another detention center due to jails being inadequate.
"Our equipment and budgets are also limited," he said.
Earlier, President Joko Widodo had called for intensive efforts to fight the drug distribution networks.
In a meeting with the chief officials of offices concerned with the drug issue, the President said narcotics trafficking was topping the list of problems being faced by Indonesia.
In view of this, efforts must be made to fight drugs, with all involved departments improving their coordination.
Every concerned institution must set aside its own agenda in tackling the drug problem, and they must work together to fight this menace, the president said at the meeting.
The fight against drugs involves the BNN, National Police, Justice and Human Rights Ministry, Customs and Excise Directorate General, Education and Culture Ministry, Health Ministry and Social Affairs Ministry, among others.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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