SEMARANG ~

President Joko Widodo or Jokowi, has stressed the importance of improving public trust in state institutions, including the police, in order to build up the state’s authority.

“We can build the state’s authority by improving public trust in state institutions,” President Jokowi remarked after listening to the complaints of regional police chiefs at the Semarang Police Academy here on Tuesday.

The president noted that he understood the police chiefs’ complaints.

According to him, public trust in state institutions can be improved by paying special attention to the public and providing adequate protection on the streets.

Addressing the complaints, President Jokowi said the problems in each region, including Maluku, Aceh, and Java, were varied.

He pointed out that problems in Maluku were related to infrastructure and facilities and the lack of allowances. Its operational budgets differed from those in Aceh or Java.

The head of state added that he would consider the complaints from the regional police chiefs while designing the national development plan.

In the meantime, National Police Chief General Sutarman said the police would support all government programs.

“We will support all government policies related to problems in the border area, maritime resources, and terrorism,” Sutarman noted.