In the next month Da'i Bachtiar, 52, will have to pray daily. If his prayers are answered and he faces no stumbling block in the House of Representatives (DPR), he will take over the National Police chief (Kapolri) baton early next month to succeed General Surojo Bimantoro, who will soon retire.

Yet, even before the word is out, Da'i is aleady busy. Now that he's been nominated by President Megawati to the police chief's post, the number of v