JAKARTA - The Indonesian Raya Youth Front (FPIR) urges the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Indonesia Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin to focus on strategic threats to sovereignty and national security, and not to make statements outside the scope of defense duties that have the potential to cause public uproar.
FPIR Coordinator, Fauzan Ohorella, assessed that Indonesia is currently facing serious challenges such as the potential for conflict in the South China Sea, the prevalence of illegal fishing practices, to deforestation which directly impacts security and environmental stability.
"These issues are a real threat to the future of the nation. The main focus of the Minister of Defense should be on strengthening the country's defense and strategic security, not being dragged into issues outside the mandate of the Ministry of Defense," said Fauzan, February 5.
FPIR assesses that the involvement of the Minister of Defense in non-defense issues has the potential to obscure national priorities. Moreover, Sjafrie's previous statement regarding the plan to replace the Bank Himbara or BUMN board of directors was considered irrelevant to the defense function and sparked controversy in the public sphere.
According to Fauzan, this statement has the potential to create a perception of infighting between sectors and widen political discord that is unproductive.
In fact, he continued, securing strategic waters, geopolitical conflict threats, and transnational crimes require full concentration and a measured defense policy.
FPIR also invites public officials to work according to the authority of their respective institutions in order to maintain the effectiveness of government and avoid political noise.
"We hope that the Minister of Defense will focus more on his main task of maintaining the country's defense. Don't let unnecessary statements actually cause polarization or infighting in the community," said Fauzan.
In addition, FPIR appeals to the public to remain rational and not be provoked by narratives that divide the unity of the nation.
"Indonesia needs a leader who focuses on his constitutional mandate, so that the energy of the nation is directed towards solving big problems, not noise," he concluded.
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