Newly installed National Police Chief Gen. Sutarman made a pledge on Friday that he would crack down on violent mass organizations that caused public disorder.
Sutarman said after his inauguration ceremony at the State Palace that under his leadership the police would take action against such organizations and would not allow "the law of the jungle" to take the reins in the country.
"Any citizen has the right to conduct activities as long as they are consistent with the law. If no law is broken, there will be no problem," he said. "But, if someone does violate the law, we must take stern action in order to make sure no groups make their own rules to handle their problems," he said.
Sutarman's statement came only one day after Home Minister Gamawan Fauzi hailed the hard-line Islam Defenders Front (FPI) as an asset to the nation.
Gamawan urged local administrations to work with the FPI in solving urban problems.
Gamawan made the statement as prosecutors sought seven-month prison sentences for two FPI members charged with involvement in a deadly clash with villagers in Sukorejo, Kendal regency, Central Java, in July.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono swore in Sutarman to replace Gen. Timur Pradopo as the National Police chief.
Yudhoyono proposed Sutarman as the sole candidate for the top post at the National Police in what many described as one of the most crucial decisions made by the President ahead of the 2014 elections.
On Friday, Sutarman, a former adjutant to former president Abdurrahman Wahid also vowed to eradicate thuggery, gambling and drugs.
Responding to the recent rape case of a 16-year-old girl that implicated a number of police in Gorontalo, Sutarman said that he would improve oversight within the force.
"Public trust contributes to our performance. The police are here to ensure the safety of the people," he said.
Sutarman secured the House of Representatives' approval during a "fit-and-proper" test last week.
During the test, Sutarman told lawmakers that he would step up efforts to curb endemic corruption within the force and other government institutions in the country.
"We must handle corruption together, whether in enforcing the law or in preventing violations," he said.
Antigraft watchdogs, however, have expressed their skepticism that Sutarman can take a bold stance against corruption, given his stance in openly opposing the Corruption Eradication Commission's (KPK) investigation into Insp. Gen. Djoko Susilo, a defendant in a graft case surrounding a Rp 144 billion (US$13.1 million) vehicle simulator procurement project.
His 2012 wealth report shows that Sutarman had Rp 5.34 billion worth of assets and savings totaling $24,194, a slight increase from Rp 5.31 billion in 2011. He also had savings of $24,175 in 2011.
KPK Chairman Abraham Samad said that he was optimistic that Sutarman could work better in building cooperation with the antigraft body.
"Don't look back. It is important to maintain cooperation with the KPK in the future. Without such synergy, it will be hard to eradicate corruption," Abraham told reporters after the inauguration ceremony.
"I hope [both institutions] will not repeat what happened in the past," Abraham said, alluding to a rocky relationship between the two institutions which involved the police arresting KPK commissioners and police detectives storming the KPK headquarters following the arrest of Djoko Susilo
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