Prabowo replaces Indonesian police chief Listyo Sigit with narcotics agency head Suyudi Ario Seto
President Prabowo Subianto has nominated National Narcotics Agency head Suyudi Ario Seto to replace Listyo Sigit Prabowo as national police chief. Parliament's Commission III endorsed the nomination after a fit-and-proper test on 1 October.
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The story, neutrally told
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has replaced national police chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo with National Narcotics Agency head Suyudi Ario Seto. CNAN “Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has replaced the country’s police chief, a role currently held by Listyo Sigit Prabowo, with the head of the National Narcotics Agency Suyudi Ario Seto.” Read at CNA ↗ South China Morning PostN “Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto is replacing Listyo Sigit Prabowo as the country’s police chief” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ On Thursday 1 October the House of Representatives received a presidential letter, dated 30 September, proposing the dismissal of the current chief and the appointment of a new one, according to House Commission III chairman Habiburokhman. CNAN “The presidential letter was dated Sep 30.” Read at CNA ↗ South China Morning PostN ““This morning, we received a letter from President Prabowo … concerning the proposal to dismiss the current national police chief and appoint a new one,” he said” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ Commission III was tasked with the fit-and-proper test, and CNA quotes Habiburokhman as saying all its factions agreed by consensus to the replacement. CNAN ““All factions in Commission III have agreed by consensus with the process of replacing Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo” Read at CNA ↗
SCMP reports that Suyudi presented a vision titled "Polri Bersama Masyarakat" (Police with the Community) at the test, and that the commission endorsed the appointment and approved Listyo's honourable discharge. South China Morning PostN “The commission has endorsed Suyudi’s appointment and approved Listyo’s honourable discharge.” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ House Speaker Puan Maharani confirmed Suyudi would be formally appointed on Thursday afternoon; asked why Listyo had to go, Puan told Antara: "It was his time." CNAN “will be formally appointed as national police chief on Thursday afternoon, confirmed House Speaker Puan Maharani.” Read at CNA ↗ South China Morning PostN ““It was his time.”” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ Listyo has held the post for over five years, since the administration of former president Joko Widodo, making him the second-longest serving national police chief. CNAN “making him the second-longest serving national police chief” Read at CNA ↗ South China Morning PostN “has been in the post for over five years” Read at South China Morning Post ↗
His tenure was marked by public backlash over alleged impunity, abuse of power and police brutality, including scrutiny after delivery rider Affan Kurniawan was killed by a Mobile Brigade armoured vehicle during nationwide protests last August. CNAN “delivery rider Affan Kurniawan was fatally struck by an armoured vehicle belonging to the police’s Mobile Brigade” Read at CNA ↗ South China Morning PostN “allegations of impunity, abuse of power and police brutality” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ Both outlets also cite tensions between the police and the Attorney General's Office over graft and money-laundering probes involving senior officials; SCMP additionally recalls the Ferdy Sambo case. CNAN “tensions between the police force and the Attorney General’s Office over graft and money laundering probes” Read at CNA ↗ South China Morning PostN “Ferdy Sambo, the head of internal affairs, who was convicted of killing his bodyguard in 2022” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ Local media had reported in early August that Prabowo had ordered Listyo's replacement; Habiburokhman then dismissed this as "unsubstantiated rumours". CNAN “the public should not be “swayed by unsubstantiated rumours”” Read at CNA ↗
Suyudi, 53, a police officer since graduating from the academy in 1994, has led the narcotics agency since August 2025; Indonesia Police Watch's Sugeng Teguh Santoso said high-profile drug raids counted toward his nomination. South China Morning PostN “Suyudi, 53, has a long track record in the police force”“The number of high-profile drug raids under him counted towards his nomination as police chief” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ Police observer Bambang Rukminto said Suyudi faces challenges including restructuring, unfinished cultural reforms and making the force independent. South China Morning PostN “He would need to restructure the organisation, implement unfinished cultural reforms” Read at South China Morning Post ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets report the leadership change as a straightforward news item, sourced to Indonesian media (Tempo, Jakarta Post, Kompas, Antara) and House officials, and set against the police force's controversies under Listyo.
- Emphasis
- CNA stresses the procedure and the earlier denied August rumours; SCMP adds the fit-and-proper test, Suyudi's profile and expert views on his challenges.
- Leaves out or plays down
- CNA does not report the test outcome or Suyudi's biography; SCMP omits the earlier August reports and Habiburokhman's denial.
- Charged language
- “scandals”“transgressions”
- For example
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“Listyo has remained in office despite calls for resignations following several controversies in the police force during his tenure.” — CNA
“Indonesia’s Prabowo appoints new police chief following scandals at the force” — South China Morning Post
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Prabowo has replaced Listyo Sigit Prabowo with Suyudi Ario Seto, head of the National Narcotics Agency.
- The House received a presidential letter on 1 October and Commission III was tasked with the fit-and-proper test.
- Listyo served over five years, the second-longest tenure of a national police chief.
- The tenure saw allegations of impunity, abuse of power and police brutality, and tensions with the Attorney General's Office.
Suyudi Ario Seto person
Nominee for national police chief; at the test he promised closer cooperation between police and communities under the vision "Polri Bersama Masyarakat".
“promising closer cooperation between law enforcement and local communities to maintain public safety and order” — South China Morning Post
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre2 articles
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CNAN ·
President Prabowo replaces Indonesia police chief Listyo Sigit with narcotics agency head
Neutral Procedural account of the presidential letter and House process, with background on earlier speculation and police controversies.
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Indonesia’s Prabowo appoints new police chief following scandals at the force
Neutral Frames the appointment as following police scandals, adding Suyudi's profile and commentary from police observers.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 1 Oct 07:12 First CNAN President Prabowo replaces Indonesia police chief Listyo Sigit with narcotics agency head
- 1 Oct 10:32 +3h 20m South China Morning PostN Indonesia’s Prabowo appoints new police chief following scandals at the force
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.