Matra AL Has Never Been The Commander Of The Indonesian Armed Forces In Jokowi's Government, What Said KSAL?

Chief of Naval Staff (KSAL) Admiral Yudo Margono (dok Dispenal)

JAKARTA - The Chief of Naval Staff (KSAL) Admiral Yudo Margono is predicted to be one of the candidates for the TNI Commander in Chief to replace General Andika Perkasa who will retire.

Responding to him, KSAL said the position of TNI Commander was the prerogative of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi). He admitted that he did not want to make assumptions about it.

"I always say, it is the president's prerogative. So, we can't assume, we can't guess," Yudo told reporters at the Indonesian Navy Kesatrian Pondok Rowing, North Jakarta, quoted from Antara, Monday, September 12.

According to the KSAL, questions about a replacement for Commander Andika should be raised to the head of state.

Most importantly, at this time, he said, carrying out the mandate and the task he charged as KSAL to keep conditions safe.

"Yes, please, of course, ask the President who has the prerogative for it," said Yudo.

As is known, KSAL Yudo Margono is predicted to be the candidate for TNI Commander in Chief to replace General TNI Andika Perkasa who will retire in November 2022.

Yudo, who has retirement in November 2023, is known to have been one of the candidates for the TNI Commander in Chief to compete with Andika in November 2021.

However, at that time, President Jokowi chose Andika Perkasa as a candidate for the TNI Commander who took the fit and proper test at Commission I of the DPR.

On the other hand, military and defense observer from the Institute for Security and Strategic Studies (ISESS) Khairul Fahmi assessed that Yudo Margono still has the opportunity to become the TNI Commander as long as he has not retired because the position must be filled by the chief of staff or the former chief of staff who is still active.

According to Fahmi, during the administration of President Jokowi, there has never been a figure from the Indonesian Navy to become the Commander of the Indonesian Armed Forces, so Yudo's potential for filling positions is important to consider.