The agreement between the National Police and Saudi Arabian Police on combating terrorism has led to the House of Representatives pushing for a stronger Terrorism Law.

Bambang Soesatyo, the chairman of House Commission III overseeing human rights, security and legal affairs, said that the amendment, currently in deliberation in the House, should strengthen the roles of antiterror units, such as the police’s Densus 88.

“The MoU [memorandum of understanding] is important for both countries. [It means] Saudi Arabia has acknowledged the dangers of terrorism. That’s enough of a reason to strengthen and widen the authority and access, under the amendment, for the country to take action against anyone implicated in terrorist activities,” Bambang said.

The government, he said, needed more power to combat terrorism because threats were unpredictable.

Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian and Saudi Arabia Police chief Usman al Mughrij signed the MoU last week, in front of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Abdulaziz Al Saud at the Bogor Presidential Palace. It was among 11 MoUs signed by the two countries during the king’s state visit.

Also in his speech at the House last week, the King encouraged Indonesia to cooperate with Saudi Arabia to face the threat of terrorism for the sake of world peace.

Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Indonesia Osama Mohammad Abdullah Alshuaibi said that the most important agenda item for both countries was to fight the Islamic State (IS) group.  (wit)