Islamic Boarding School's Concerns About Recruiting Santri as Police Officers

The caretaker of Luhur Manhajiy Fahimna Islamic Boarding School in Cirebon, Marzuki Wahid is concerned that santri may face integrity issues.

Islamic Boarding School's Concerns About Recruiting Santri as Police Officers

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The caretaker of Pondok Pesantren (Islamic boarding school) Luhur Manhajiy Fahimna in Cirebon, Marzuki Wahid, welcomed the statement of General Listyo Sigit, the National Police Chief (Kapolri), who prioritized the recruitment of Islamic students () as police officers. According to Sigit, Islamic students would be stronger in resisting temptations while on duty.

Marzuki sees Kapolri's statement as an opportunity for Islamic boarding school students to participate as part of law enforcement. However, he also acknowledges that Islamic students may face integrity issues upon entering the police institution.

"Can the Islamic students, once they enter the police force, change the face of the Indonesian National Police, or will they, on the contrary, be influenced by what is often referred to by observers as improper methods," Marzuki said when contacted on Saturday, February 8, 2025.

Instead of transforming the police force, Marzuki is concerned that Islamic students could be influenced. However, he believes that students educated on honesty principles and obedience to rules, including religious rules, can bring a new perspective to the police force. Therefore, he stated, Islamic students can uphold integrity, principles of justice, and the purpose of enforcing the law effectively.

Reflecting on their national commitment, he believes that Islamic students can strengthen nationalism within the Indonesian National Police. "(I) hope that the values taught in Islamic boarding schools can influence the police force for the better, not the other way round."

Regarding recruitment, Marzuki suggests that the students under his supervision who wish to become police officers should not be required to go through the initial selection stages such as joining the police academy (Akpol). The reason is that they have already pursued a bachelor's degree.

"If, for example, they later join the police force, I don't think it should be from scratch, not from Akpol." He said that the Islamic students could instead contribute to providing mental guidance. As of now, Marzuki said that there are no graduates of the Islamic boarding school who have served the country as police officers. "No one has shown interest yet."

In his official statement, the Kapolri do not want the police to understand only their duties. He hopes that the police will have the maturity of character to provide guidance and to serve as a role model for society. He believes that the Islamic students can fulfill his wishes. "Because they are equipped with strong faith so that when faced with temptations, they can withstand everything," Sigit said in his official statement on Wednesday, February 5, 2025.

Alif Ilham Fajriadi contributed to the writing of this article.

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