DPR Holds Fit And Proper Test For Candidate For TNI Commander Andika Perkasa Tomorrow

General Andika Perkasa/DOK ANTARA

JAKARTA - Commission I of the DPR held an internal meeting to discuss the fit and proper test of the candidate for the Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, General Andika Perkasa, this afternoon. The meeting became the initial series of the fit and proper test process for Andika Perkasa before officially leading the TNI.

"The series of fit and proper tests starts today," said Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, Thursday, November 4.

Dasco said that the appointment and assignment to Commission I of the DPR to carry out a fit and proper test for the candidate for the commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces was the decision of the Deliberative Body (Bamus) of the DPR which held a meeting on Wednesday, November 3.

If the mechanisms and procedures have been established in Commission I of the DPR, the fit and proper test for General Andika Perkasa will likely be held tomorrow, Friday, November 5.

"Tomorrow is planned for a fit and proper test carried out by Commission I. We'll see later, hopefully it goes smoothly and nothing happens," explained the daily chairman of the Gerindra Party.

Previously, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD emphasized that President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) had firmly chosen Army Chief of Staff (KSAD) General Andika Perkasa as the sole candidate for TNI Commander. He said this election was also adjusted to the current conditions and challenges.

"The President's consideration in choosing Mr. Andika is certainly based on the current comprehensive challenges and actual needs. The President's choice has been right and firmly in line," Mahfud said in a written statement, Thursday, November 4.

President Jokowi's decision, he continued, was also not based on opinions from other parties. Mahfud said that Andika's election was in accordance with the prerogative of the head of state.

The former chairman of the Constitutional Court (MK) believes that Andika is capable of becoming the TNI Commander because of his quality and professionalism.

"If the position has reached the Chief of Staff of the Army, Navy and Air Force, he must be the best person in his dimension," said Mahfud.

Not only that, he personally feels suitable to work with Andika while serving as Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs since 2019. Mahfud believes that later the son-in-law of the former Head of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) AM Hendropriyono will also be able to continue the work of Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, who will retire this year.

"For me, as the Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law and Security, who has worked with Pak Andika for two years, it feels right, I just need to continue what we have been doing together with Pak Hadi Tjahjanto," he said.

"Pak Andika is firm but full of smiles and always correct. Same with Pak Hadi Tjahjanto, both of them are professional, humanist soldiers, and are thick with Indonesian culture," added Mahfud.