JAKARTA. Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan has claimed a good relationship with parties inside the State Intelligence Agency (BIN), saying they fully supported him during his candidacy to become the agency’s new chief.

Budi said outgoing BIN chief Sutiyoso and all personnel at the office had assisted him from the day President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo decided to appoint him until he passed the screening process at the House of Representatives.

"I thank Pak Sutiyoso and his personnel for assisting me [...] Their assistance has demonstrated that internally, the agency is solid and they support my succession to the agency’s leadership," Budi said on Thursday.

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He also asserted that he would cooperate with all BIN personnel to improve the agency's intelligence capability in order to present the more professional and accurate advice that was needed for the government's decision-making process, to the President.

House lawmakers approved Budi’s nomination to replace Sutiyoso as the new BIN chief in a plenary meeting on Thursday.

The House said it would immediately send an approval letter to President Jokowi so that the inauguration ceremony for Budi, who currently serves as the deputy National Police chief, could be carried out soon. (Marguerite Afra Sapiie)