This Observer Says Jokowi Has Never Selected The Navy As Commander In Chief, Yudo Margono's Opportunity Is Still Open

KSAL Yudo Margono (Photo: BPMI Setpres/Lukas)

JAKARTA - Military and defense observer from the Institute for Security and Strategic Studies (ISESS), Khairul Fahmi, assessed that Naval Chief of Staff (KSAL), Admiral TNI Yudo Margono, still has the opportunity to become an Indonesian Army (TNI) Commander as long as he has not retired.

"As long as he has not yet entered retirement, the opportunity for Admiral Yudo Margono to become TNI commander is still open, because the position must be filled by a chief of staff or former chief of staff who is still active", said Khairul Fahmi in a written statement received in Jakarta, Saturday 25 June quoted from Antara.

In addition, the opportunity for Yudo to become TNI commander is also open because it refers to the appointment of General TNI Andika. Thus, it is still possible to apply the pattern when the TNI Commander replaces it in 2023, he said.

He also said, as long as President Joko Widodo is in charge, there has never been a figure from the Navy who has been the commander of the TNI. So Yudo's potential to fill the position is important to consider even though there are no normative provisions that require rotation between dimensions.

"During the administration of President Jokowi, there has never been a commander from the Indonesian Navy. Although there is no normative provision that requires rotation between the three dimensions, it is important to consider this", he said.

He said political communication with influential figures around President Jokowi could contribute to strengthening opportunities for someone to become TNI Commander and gain parliamentary approval. Such communication, according to him, has been seen in the recent work of Yudo and the Indonesian Navy.

"Political communication with influential figures around the President is also believed to contribute to strengthening the opportunity to be appointed and get parliamentary approval. The recent progress of Pak Yudo and the Indonesian Navy has shown that there is ongoing political communication to maintain opportunities", he added.

Khairul gave an example of the political communication that occurred during the inauguration of the naming of the Indonesian Navy's Corvette Ship with the name KRI Bung Karno-369. In the event, Yudo established a symbolic meaningful relationship through a warm meeting with the 5th President of the Republic of Indonesia Megawati Soekarnoputri.

"KSAL appeared warmly with the fifth President of the Republic of Indonesia who is also the General Chair of the PDI-P Megawati Soekarnoputri. Plus, previously, Admiral Yudo also presented the romance of the legacy of Indonesia's first president Soekarno during the Puspenerbal (Naval Aviation Center) anniversary on June 17," he said.

Whoever becomes the TNI commander later, Khairul said the TNI must remain solid and synergize, so wisdom is needed from all parties by prioritizing harmonious relations between institutions for the sake of peace and the future of the Indonesian nation. "Stop ego-sectoral," he said.