Facts About Major Teddy In The Presidential Candidate Debate, TNI Waits For News From Bawaslu

YOGYAKARTA - Major Inf Teddy Indra Wijaya became a public conversation because he was in the line of supporters of the Prabowo-Gibran pair during the presidential candidate debate. Many people also wonder, because the TNI should not be involved in political matters. So what are the facts about major Teddy in the presidential candidate debate?

The neutrality of TNI members has been regulated in Law (UU) 34/2004 concerning the TNI and PKPU 15/2003 concerning Election Campaigns. Referring to these regulations, Major Teddy should not interfere or deal with the implementation of the General Election. Various parties also opened their voices about the presence of major Teddy in the inaugural presidential candidate debate at the KPU yesterday.

Currently Major Teddy is an active TNI officer from the Indonesian Army's Special Forces Command (Kopassus). as well as an adjutant to Prabowo Subianto. Based on the rules of the Law on the position of the TNI in political contestation, all TNI soldiers are prohibited from participating or engaging in practical political activities.

In the video and photo of the presidential candidate's debate event which was held for the first time, Major Teddy is seen sitting between the ranks of Prabowo-Gibran supporters. He is seen wearing the same color as the supporters of the presidential candidate number 2.

The following are a number of responses regarding Major Teddy's presence in the presidential candidate debate in the ranks of Prabowo-Gibran supporters.

Deputy Chairperson of the Prabowo-Gibran National Campaign Team (TKN), Erwin Aksa, responded to Major Teddy's position in the line of supporters of presidential and vice-presidential candidates number 2. Erwin said that the TNI officer was not included in the structure of the Prabowo-Gibran TKN.

Erwin Aksa said that Major Teddy's presence at the KPU during the debate was in order to carry out his duties as Prabowo's aide. Erwin said that Teddy was only carrying out his duties and was not allowed to participate in arranging electoral activities.

The Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) is discussing Mayor Teddy's presence at the presidential candidate debate event. Bawaslu will immediately take steps from the study process carried out and will be announced this week.

Lolly Suhenty, Bawaslu Commissioner, said that Mayor Teddy's presence was at risk of violating the election regarding his status as a TNI Soldier. This is related to the neutrality of ASN, TNI/Polri which is clearly regulated in the Law on General Elections.

"The potential for alleged violations, of course, we must state the potential for alleged violations to occur, but the results are still under study," said Lolly at the Indonesian Bawaslu Office, Jakarta on Sunday (17/12).

If it is proven that there was a violation committed by Major Teddy, Bawaslu will submit his findings to the TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto. In this case, Bawaslu only acts as a recommendation provider. Meanwhile, the follow-up will be carried out by the TNI as the institution that oversees Major Teddy.

The TNI immediately gave a response regarding Mayor Teddy's presence in the presidential candidate debate event. Julius said that Teddy's presence in this case did not represent the TNI institution or personal interests. Rear Admiral TNI Julius Widjojono said that Major Teddy's capacity at the event was as an aide to the Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto.

Julius emphasized that Major Teddy had nothing to do with politics. Teddy is already known to be attached to Prabowo as an aide, who is currently the presidential candidate number 2 with his partner Gibran Rakabuming.

Julius also said that Teddy had been carrying out his duties as Prabowo's adjutant since 2020. Previously as an aide to the Minister of Defense, Teddy was an assistant aide to President Jokowi in the 2014-2019 period.

That's the review of Mayor Teddy's presence in the inaugural presidential candidate debate. If a violation is found related to this, Major Teddy will get punishment based on applicable regulations. Also read Bawaslu news, review Major Teddy attended the presidential candidate debate.

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