General Dudung Wants To Build A Unit At The Kodim Level At IKN While It's Still In The Construction Process

General Dudung Abdurachman (Photo via Antara)

JAKARTA - The army leadership plans to form units at the level of the Military District Command (Kodim) in the location of the new state capital (IKN) in East Kalimantan.

The new units will later assist in security during the infrastructure development at IKN, said TNI AD Chief of Staff (KSAD) General Dudung Abdurachman, Wednesday, March 2, quoted from Antara.

"Of course, later during the (development) process, there will be small units in order to assist the security process. Those (units at the Kodim level, ed.) will be placed," said Dudung at the Army Headquarters.

However, the Indonesian Army has not discussed the development of personnel related to the plan to form the unit.

The TNI AD Leadership Meeting in 2022 which was held at the TNI AD Headquarters (Mabesad), Jakarta, also did not discuss plans for developing or adding personnel.

"Today we are not discussing the development of people (soldiers, ed.) including the addition of personnel," said Dudung.

However, the issue of relocating IKN from DKI Jakarta to North Penajam Paser and Kutai Kertanegara Regencies in East Kalimantan became one of the focuses of discussion at the 2022 TNI AD Leadership Meeting.

Dudung said he would remind his staff and their families to support the transfer of IKN as determined by the government and the DPR.

Support for IKN, according to Dudung, is mandatory for TNI AD soldiers, because it is a form of discipline that is subject to orders from leaders and government policies.

"There was a special emphasis yesterday from the President of the problem in the WA group which is still talking about IKN. In principle, the TNI AD fully supports the program to move the capital city to Kalimantan," said General Dudung.

The statement was in response to the direction of the President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo at the 2022 TNI Police Leadership Meeting at the TNI Headquarters, Jakarta, Tuesday (1/3).

In his directive, the President reminded that there are still families of TNI soldiers and members of the Police who do not agree with the IKN transfer policy. According to the President, this attitude does not reflect the disciplined attitude of soldiers who must follow or be in line with government policies.

Regarding the transfer of IKN, Kasad continued to convey the plan to relocate Headquarters. But so far, there has been no detailed explanation regarding the transfer of headquarters.

"I've been there to IKN, indeed there is a location prepared for the TNI there, how much has been prepared," said General Dudung.