Gerindra Praises General Andika Perkasa

DPR Speaker Puan Maharani and General Andika Perkasa (DPR doc photo)

JAKARTA - Secretary-General of the Gerindra Party DPP Ahmad Muzani believes that General Andika Perkasa will be able to coordinate all elements of the TNI into a formidable force in maintaining defense and security in Indonesia.

"His experience as Army Chief of Staff (Kasad) is quite a long experience. And it is a very valuable provision to be the Commander of the TNI. I am sure that General Andika can carry out his duties well for the interests of the nation and state," said Muzani at the Parliament Complex, Jakarta, Monday 8 November.

Regarding the issue in Papua, General Andika already knows the anatomy of the problem in the region. Therefore, Muzani believes which approach will be used and which option will be chosen, will be taken comprehensively.

"The problems in Papua go up and down, I think General Andika already knows the anatomy of the problems in Papua," he said.

The DPR RI Plenary Meeting has officially approved General Andika Perkasa as the candidate for TNI Commander. Andika is the only candidate that has been proposed by President Joko Widodo to the Indonesian House of Representatives last week.

Chairperson of Commission I of the DPR RI, Meutya Hafid, in her report, said that Commission I of the DPR has conducted a feasibility test for the candidate for TNI Commander on Saturday, November 6 to hear General Andika's vision and mission.

After that, it was immediately followed by making a decision, which was to agree to the honorable discharge of Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto as Commander of the TNI and to give appreciation for his dedication while leading the TNI.

The chairman of the DPR RI, Puan Maharani, left a message to General Andika Perkasa which was approved by the DPR as the Commander of the Indonesian Armed Forces. Puan hopes that Andika can work optimally even though the four-star general's term of office is only one year.

General Andika's approval as the new TNI Commander was carried out at the DPR Plenary Meeting at the Nusantara II Building, Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Monday, November 8. The DPR RI ratified it after Commission I of the DPR RI approved the choice of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) who proposed the name of General Andika as the sole candidate for TNI Commander.

"Congratulations to the candidate for the TNI Commander, hopefully, he can carry out a strategic role in leading the TNI and implementing national defense policies with full responsibility and trust," said Puan while chairing the Plenary Meeting.

In the plenary session, General Andika Perkasa was present and introduced to the members of the council. Andika was chosen as TNI Commander to replace Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, who was about to retire.

Furthermore, Puan said the DPR would immediately send a letter of approval from the new TNI Commander to President Jokowi. After obtaining approval from the DPR, the next stage in the appointment of the TNI Commander is the inauguration of the president.