House of Representatives Supports President To Discipline WhatsApp Group TNI-Police

JAKARTA - The steps taken by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) who asked for the WhatsApp Group (WAG) among the TNI (Indonesian Army) and National Police to be disciplined were supported by the House of Representatives.

Member of Commission I of the House of Representatives, Bobby Adhityo Rizaldi, assessed that the enforcement of military discipline needs to be improved in terms of securing state policies.

"I agree, because the military, the TNI, and the police are hard to power or coercive institutions, have weapons, have a command or discipline that is perpendicular to the highest leadership in terms of securing state policies", Bobby Adhityo Rizaldi told reporters, Tuesday, March 1.

The Golkar politician admitted that the enforcement of military discipline at the TNI and Police leadership levels is currently good. However, Bobby said, there needs to be increased compliance to secure state policies.

"Perhaps as stated by the President, compliance needs to be increased to secure state policies that have been decided and have legitimacy", he said.

In addition, Bobby believes that the President's directive does not need to be a polemic within the TNI and Police.

"This is so that there are no doubts in their daily activities that are relevant to the policy. Due to their nature of holding weapons, there should be no doubts", said Bobby.

Previously, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) asked the TNI-Police to be careful in making statements. Especially in conversations on WhatsApp Group (WAG).

“We have to start being disciplined in WhatsApp Groups. I saw it in the WA group, if you're in your own circle, be careful. If it is allowed and if it continues, be careful", said Jokowi to the TNI-Police ranks at the 2022 TNI-National Police Leadership Meeting at TNI Headquarters, Cilangkap, East Jakarta, Tuesday, March 1.

He then gave an example, one of which was discussed about the Capital of the Archipelago (IKN). He mentioned that there was a discussion on the rejection of IKN in the TNI-Police group.

“For example, when you talk about IKN, you don't agree, what is IKN? It has been decided by the government and approved by the House of Representatives", Jokowi said.

According to Jokowi, the TNI-Police discipline regarding the government's decision to move the nation's capital is no longer debated. He admitted that he read the TNI-Police WhatsApp group that mentioned the IKN.

"In the discipline of the TNI and Police, it cannot be debated, especially in the WhatsApp group, it is easy to read", said Jokowi.