In Jakarta

IT TOOK Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono many weeks to decide whether or not to extend the service of his police chief, General Sutanto, who reaches retirement age of 58 on Sept 30.

Why the delay? It's politics.

One version has it that Gen Sutanto may go into politics as he is being eyed by some political parties which want him to stand as president or vice-president in next year's election.

Hence President Yudhoyono may not feel comfortable having a police chief who has presidential ambition.

Yet another version - which I am more inclined to believe - is that the president himself wants him to retire so as to keep him ready for a political appointment later.

Gen Sutanto is still his close confidante whom he has known since their cadet days at the police and military academy in 1973.

If he has the choice, Dr Yudhoyono would want to retain him as police chief for another two years after retirement to oversee next year's elections.

But because of criticisms and pressure on him to regenerate and reform the police force, the president decided to let the man retire instead.

Before doing so, Gen Sutanto had to pick his successor - that of Criminal investigation chief Bambang Hendarso Danuri - who the president could trust to do the job.

And Hendarso is a logical choice.

Apart from being a protege of Gen Sutanto, Hendarso has made a name for himself for his bold decisions in ordering the arrest of Rizieq Shihab, leader of the hardline Islamic Defenders' Front and Munarman, another hardliner.

Hendarso is also the man behind the arrest of former intelligence deputy chief Muchdi Purwopranjono, accused of being behind the murder of human rights campaigner Munir Said Thalib in 2004.

Having agreed with the choice, Dr Yudhoyono on Wednesday allowed Gen Sutanto to retire next month.

But the talk in Jakarta is that Dr Yudhoyono still wants his friend to be with him - by joining the next cabinet if he gets re-elected.

The job that is waiting for him would naturally be the coordinating security minister.

Naming him for the job would not be a problem as Gen Sutanto's performance as police chief has been remarkable to a certain extent.

It is during his watch that wanted Jemaah Islamiyah bomber, Dr Azahari Hussin, was killed in a police raid while hundreds other extremists were detained.

The most recent was the terrorist group rounded up in Palembang in July.

All these means that while Sutanto has retired, get ready to hear more of him in coming months.