LPDP Briefing Involves TNI, Purbaya: Focus on Character and Love of Country

Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa (photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa spoke out regarding the involvement of the Indonesian National Army (TNI) in the Preparation for Departure (PK) activities for scholarship recipients of the Education Fund Management Agency (LPDP).

He emphasized that the briefing was not intended for military interests, but to build discipline and foster the participants' sense of nationalism.

According to him, physical exercises such as sit-ups and push-ups are part of the process of character formation and discipline.

Purbaya explained that the involvement of the TNI was more focused on mental training and strengthening love for the homeland, not for the purpose of war.

"LPDP has further training in terms of the TNI, not for war but to train, strengthen their sense of nationalism. Usually when you do sit-ups, push-ups, that discipline is actually training, training for love of the country. The discipline is love of the country," he told the media, Monday, May 4.

According to him, this briefing is important so that scholarship recipients will still have a sense of love for Indonesia while studying abroad.

In addition, he did not want to see scholarship recipients actually degrading their country after getting the opportunity to study abroad.

"Don't let it happen later like yesterday, go out and insult your own country. That's the main thing," he said.

Regarding the additional budget for the involvement of the TNI, Purbaya said the amount was relatively small and could still be categorized as an investment.

According to him, the cost is comparable to the amount of funds that the state has spent to support the education of scholarship recipients abroad.

He also added that this briefing aims to ensure that scholarship recipients can return to Indonesia and make a real contribution after completing their studies.

"At Halim, right? Yeah, it's okay, it's an investment. If you add a little, it's not much compared to the cost of them being abroad for years. And if you don't come back, I'll lose a lot," he said.

In the future, he added that the LPDP policy will be more directed towards the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Purbaya assessed that there were still many scholarship recipients who took majors outside the field, even though the national development needs increasingly depend on mastery of technology.

He also emphasized the importance of adjusting policy directions so that Indonesia does not lag behind in global developments.

"I was in New York yesterday, to DC, yes, I met the LPDP scholarship and the one who did not have the LPDP scholarship, there were 50 people. Most of the courses are not STEM. So it's not what we need, we will change it because we have to increase the use of technology in the future, if we don't we will be left behind," he said.