Support Commander Yudo Margono, Chairman Of The MPR: TNI Don't Be Utilized Into Political Practically

President Jokowi was accompanied by Defense Minister Prabowo after the inauguration of Admiral Yudo Margono (first from the right) as TNI Commander at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta today, Monday 19 December. (Tsa Tsia-VOI screenshot)

JAKARTA - MPR Chairman Bambang Soesatyo (Bamsoet) supports the efforts of the TNI Commander Admiral Yudo Margono to maintain the stability of the country. He advised Yudo to guard the neutrality of soldiers in the face of a political year that tends to heat up.

"Do not let certain parties want to take advantage of it by attracting the TNI in practical politics," said Bamsoet in his statement, Tuesday, December 20.

Regarding external factors, Bamsoet asked Yudo to anticipate various possibilities that occurred in the North Natuna Sea area. The area near the South China Sea has been tense since the beginning of the year after the jurisdiction was disturbed.

"In principle, no Indonesian land, water and air should be taken by foreign parties," he said. The Golkar politician also mentioned the escalation of tensions that occurred in Taiwan and the Korean peninsula, to armed conflicts in several countries, such as Yemen, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Myanmar, including Russia and Ukraine. "The TNI is also faced with various more complex, sophisticated, and more complicated challenges in line with the pace of times. Therefore, the TNI must also be aware of non-military threats that damage the country's ideology," said Bamsoet.

According to Bamsoet, the sovereignty of the nation and state should not only rely on the physical strength of the military because potential threats will be present in various aspects. Both economics, social-culture, political-ideology, and various other soft-power threats.

Yudo, he added, was also faced with challenges in order to advance the national defense industry run by SOEs and domestic private business actors.

Bamsoet assessed that apart from strengthening the sovereignty of the domestic defense industry, private involvement in the sector could be a support for the national economy.

"At the same time reducing the burden of state spending in building a supply network for defense industry components," he said. Yudo was inaugurated by President Joko Widodo at the State Palace in Jakarta on Monday 19 December. Yudo became TNI Commander replacing General Andika Perkasa who retired at the end of 2022.

The handover ceremony (certificate) of the TNI Commander from General Andika Perkasa to Admiral Yudo Margono was held at Cilangkap, East Jakarta, today, Tuesday, December 20.