Anies Gives A Score Of 11 Out Of 100 Performances Of Defense Minister Prabowo Because He Doesn't Think About The Fate Of Soldier Welfare

JAKARTA - Presidential Candidate Anies Baswedan gave the Ministry of Defense (Kemenhan) a score of 11 out of 100 during the third debate of the 2024 Presidential and Vice Presidential Elections (Pilpres) because the institution did not think about official houses (rumdin) for Indonesian National Army (TNI) soldiers.

The former governor of DKI Jakarta questioned how TNI soldiers could have maximum performance if their welfare was not considered. Therefore, the Government needs to think about how soldiers can focus on carrying out their duties.

"Don't let them work while getting his wife's WA (WhatsApp), the house rental has not been paid and they are on duty in a remote place," Anies said while campaigning in Gorontalo as reported by ANTARA, Monday, January 8.

According to him, welfare issues for soldiers must be a priority, both members of the TNI, Polri, and ASN in the defense sphere.

Anies assessed that the Ministry of Defense's budget allocation of around Rp700 trillion was a problem if not for the welfare of soldiers.

In the era of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, said Anies, the soldier's salary increased nine times. Meanwhile, the Jokowi era increased the salaries of soldiers only three times.

"Yes, this is a problem. His men were asked to do extraordinary work, but there was no good support," he said.