Megawati Wants The Indonesian Navy To Be Strengthened: We Are A Marine Country

JAKARTA - The 5th President of the Republic of Indonesia Megawati Soekarnoputri reminded the Indonesian Navy (AL) to be strengthened.

Megawati said this strengthening was based on a geopolitical and geographical map of Indonesia, most of which were in the waters.

This was conveyed by Megawati when giving a speech at the launch of the book for the 58th anniversary of the National Resilience Institution (Lemhanas), Saturday, May 20.

"We are a maritime country. Three dimensions are land, sea, and air, we have to think realisticly. I often see what this wants," Megawati said at an event held at the Lemhanas Building, Central Jakarta.

Megawati said that she had discussed this with Army Chief of Staff General Dudung Abdurachman. He said, he once asked if there was an attack, which dimension would respond first.

However, in the discussion, it was impossible for the Army (AD) to respond first.

"Umpamanya mau ada serangan, belum masuk itu entah kapal laut, pesawat, yang maju dulu siapa? Memang angkatan arah? Tidak lah," tegasnya.

"Don't say I hate the army. I'm telling the truth, it's realistic," he continued.

Thus, this condition made him think that the military force at sea should be strengthened by the government of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi). "We still like egocentricism. Well, that, the three dimensions are difficult," he said.

Megawati also felt that she did not agree that the military regional command (kodam) should be increased. He considered that this step was not very meaningful in defense in the country.

"This has no role, secondly whether we want war. So, how to avoid war, the force must be good, the police, don't want to enrich yourself," he concluded.