Polemic Of 'Mass Organization' That Ended Sweetly, Commander Of TNI And KSAD Sitting Together In Commission I

Photo by Nailin In Saroh/VOI

JAKARTA - TNI Commander General Andika Perkasa and KSAD General Dudung Abdurachman finally sat down together. Like it or not, there is a role for the DPR which previously highlighted disharmony within the TNI.

After not appearing together in public for a long time, the TNI Commander and KSAD finally attended a meeting at the DPR between Commission I and Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto and the ranks of the TNI.

Army Chief of Staff General Dudung Abdurachman and TNI Commander General Andika Perkasa sat separated by Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto.

Dudung sat to the left of Prabowo, while Andika Perkasa sat to the right of the Minister of Defense. Just to the right of General Andika, there is KSAL Admiral Yudo Margono.

“Today's meeting seemed to dismiss the issue of tilt or disharmony between the TNI Commander and the Army Chief of Staff. Since this slanted issue has been circulating, I have seen this meeting as the first time that Andika and Dudung appear in public side by side,” said Political Communication Expert Silvanus Alvin, Monday, September 26.

According to the lecturer at the Faculty of Communication Sciences, Multimedia Nusantara University (UMN), there was 'interference' from the DPR in Andika and Dudung's meeting. Alvin assessed that the DPR's special attention to the issue of disharmony within the TNI had produced positive results.

"Despite the small ripples that occurred previously, the involvement of the DPR, especially Commission I regarding this issue needs to be appreciated," he said.

"We can see together that the DPR's criticism, even though it had created a polemic, was in fact effective in placing Andika together with Dudung," continued Alvin.

The DPR as a legislative body that represents the people has the right to supervise its partners in the government. It is natural for Commission I of the DPR to ask for clarification regarding the issue of disharmony between Andika and Dudung.

“Moreover, this issue has been widely discussed by the public. I am sure that the members of the House of Representatives in Commission I of the DPR pay attention to the issue of disharmony in the TNI," said the lecturer at the Distance Learning Study Program.

"Surely inputs and suggestions, both formal and informal, are carried out to maintain and care for the soul of the corps," continued Alvin.

This graduate of the University of Leicester UK master also said that the board members had carried out their duties and obligations in the supervisory function. Alvin said the DPR must also pay attention to various things other than the technical matters of the work of its partners.

"From a certain point of view, the public can see that the board members are carrying out their supervisory functions well," he said.

Alvin said that the DPR has a moral obligation to oversee the performance of the government ranks as an accountability to the people.

“From this case, we can see that the DPR also pays attention to social matters. Dare to talk or bring up things that are missed and even tend to be taboo to be discussed,” concluded Alvin.