The Commander Of The TNI Opening Of Persons' Deficiencies, RI-Malaysia Borders Can Only Be Guarded By 1 Soldier For Each Kilometer

Photo via Twitter @setkabgoid

JAKARTA - Indonesia and Malaysia are neighbors. However, the area of the border that must be maintained stretches very wide with minimal personnel.

The TNI Commander General Andika Perkasa explained that the RI-Malaysia border actually has a border line of 2,000 kilometers. There are 1,800 TNI soldiers on duty there.

Just so you know, this is not an ideal number.

"It means that if you spread it from left to right with one person with another, it's more than one kilometer away. It's actually less, but yes, we have to be smart, the important thing is that we can't give up with personnel shortages," explained General Andika at the Merdeka Palace Square, Jakarta, Wednesday 5 October.

Andika said that his party was trying to establish cooperation with the Indonesian people there through coaching so that they could help work to secure the border.

"We foster them so that they can be an early warning for us because if it is physically held, we are not enough," he added as quoted by Antara.

At the peak of the commemoration of the TNI's 77th Anniversary, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) had time to greet security officers in four border areas and the outermost parts of Indonesia.

The first border security officers called Jokowi were those who served at the Entikong PLBN in Sanggau Regency, West Kalimantan. This PLBN is directly adjacent to Malaysia.

Jokowi then chatted briefly with Dansatgas Infantry Battalion 645 Lt. Col. Inf. Hudallah who was with 59 soldiers on duty. The President talked about where PLBN officers shopped.

"Is this for shopping in Malaysia or in Indonesia?" Jokowi asked.

"In Indonesia, at Balai Karangan," replied Hudallah.

"Is it cheaper or more expensive?" Jokowi asked again.

"It's cheaper," replied Hudallah.