The Story Of Once Calling Vladimir Putin 'threatened' About Defense Equipment In Front Of KSAL Yudo, Megawati: Bring A Lot Of Time Home

Chairperson of the PDIP DPP Megawati Soekarnoputri (VOI/PDIP DPP)

JAKARTA - The fifth President Megawati Soekarnoputri recounted her experience when she called Russian President Vladimir Putin to ask for war defense equipment for the TNI.

Megawati said this in front of the Navy Chief of Staff (KSAL) Admiral Yudo Margono when he was the keynote speaker for the "Tapak Tilas Ratu Kalinyamat Nusantara Maritime Hero" Talk Show held by the Indonesian Navy on the deck of KRI Dewaruci, Kolinlamil Pier, North Jakarta, Thursday, August 11th.

When she was president, Megawati once asked about the military power in the country.

"I asked directly how much strength our force had. Oh, all the reports, how come, it's not encouraging. That's why I went to Russia," Megawati said, quoted from Antara, Jakarta.

Megawati had also asked America and Britain for defense equipment, but they were ignored. In fact, Indonesia's military strength at the time of President Soekarno was the strongest in Southeast Asia.

"At that time I asked America not to be given, I asked England not to be given. I said iki piye anyway, really, really arrogant. This is my experience that can now be told, not to brag. Imagine, he said our strength when when my father was the strongest in Southeast Asia, how about now as president," said Megawati.

Finally Megawati called Putin because he was invited to come to Russia. Mega 'threatened' that he would not comply with Russia's invitation if he was not provided with war equipment.

"I called Putin because I was invited. I just said this, 'I will only come to Russia, but if I don't bring war equipment I won't come'. If you don't believe it, ask Putin himself. Putin says welcome Megawati. "I brought home a lot," said Megawati.