Criticism Of Retired TNI/Polri Generals, Kompak Rejects Indonesia To Buy Used Aircraft

JAKARTA - The purchase of a used plane by the Ministry of Defense received strong criticism. This criticism was conveyed by a number of retired TNI / Polri in front of the 2024 presidential candidate from PDIP, Ganjar Pranowo at the Ngopi Bareng Ganjar event at the Mercure Ancol Hotel.

The generals criticized the government's policy, in this case the Indonesian Ministry of Defense, regarding the purchase of used aircraft which was actually considered to be detrimental to Indonesia.

"Now we have a lot of news that we bought used aircraft. The plane that flew in 2009. We just donated it. How come now we buy it, the price is the same as the new plane again," said TNI Intermediate Marshal (Ret.) Dede Rusamsi, Sunday, July 30.

The former Deputy Chief of Staff of the Air Force (Wakasau) emphasized that Indonesia had bad experience when purchasing used aircraft. According to him, the used plane is like an airplane coffin.

"There are many of my seniors who escaped the coffin. But there were also those who did not qualify. One of them was the Young Marshal Jeffry, he jumped from a used plane because the engine died," he said.

For this reason, he proposed to Ganjar to be selective in purchasing defense equipment. He also asked Ganjar to increase independence in the Indonesian defense equipment industry.

"Our independence to produce defense equipment must be improved. Invite other countries for cooperation in making so that transfer knowledge can be carried out. We maintain the existing aircraft and must be improved," he said.

The same thing was conveyed by Rear Admiral TNI (ret) Surya Wiranto. He also warned Ganjar not to buy used defense equipment.

"The enemy's threat is in sight, we need to strengthen national defense. Don't think it will collapse with the purchase of used defense equipment. Used fighter aircraft," he said.

He also shared a bad experience related to the purchase of used defense equipment. When he bought used ships from England and Germany, he laughed at them by the soldiers there.

"They said you would not be able to arrive in Indonesia. Because the ship we purchased was for short-term operations, while we had to bring the used ship home to Indonesia with a shipping period of two months. We were ridiculed, sir," he said.

Hearing these inputs, Ganjar also agreed that Indonesia's defense must be increased. Indonesia's independence to produce defense equipment must also be encouraged to be independent.

"Our country must be strong, so defense equipment and completeness must be maximized. In terms of military industry we have, that is independence that we must develop. We call the nation's best children to complete our defense equipment industry," he said.

In addition, Ganjar also emphasized the importance of increasing state revenue. With a large income, the national defense system will be strong.

"We must be ready with a new war of the future. In my opinion, not only defense equipment, but also proxies, digital defense and bio science. We must prepare, universities, industry and research institutions, we must prepare and encourage for that," he said.

Ganjar was invited by hundreds of retired TNI and Polri generals at the Mercure Ancol Hotel, Jakarta, Sunday, July 30. They discussed and provided input to the 2024 presidential reading of the PDIP.

A total of 273 retired TNI/Polri gathered at the event entitled Ngopi Bareng Ganjar. Present were the former National Police Chief, namely Police General (ret) Bimantoro, Police General (ret) Rusman Hadi and Police General (ret) Da'i Bachtiar. Also present were the former TNI Commander, General Andika Perkasa.

There were also a number of high-ranking TNI officers, including Admiral TNI (ret) Bernard Kent Sondakh, Marshal TNI (ret) Agus Supriatna, Vice Admiral TNI (ret) Agus Setiadji, Major General TNI (ret) TB Hasanuddin and hundreds of other TNI and Polri generals.