Fulfill Jokowi's Request To Prevent Minerba Smuggling, KSAL Gandeng TNI AU-Bakamla-KKP

Photo: BPMI Setpres/Muchlis Jr

JAKARTA - KSAL Admiral TNI Muhammad Ali relies on cooperation with a number of stakeholders in an effort to prevent mineral and coal smuggling (minerba).

KSAL admitted that the prevention of smuggling mineral and coal had indeed been the direction emphasized by the President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo when he was sworn in at the end of December 2022.

"Indeed, most of the large smuggling by sea, for that the Navy must be able to thwart or prevent smuggling mineral and coal, especially nickel, tin, bauxite and coal," Ali told the media crew on the sidelines of the Indonesian Navy Leadership Meeting (Rapim) at the Indonesian Navy Headquarters, Cilangkap, Jakarta, Monday, February 13, quoted by Antara.

President Jokowi again conveyed a similar directive while attending the TNI/Polri Rapim on Wednesday (8/2) and reaffirmed by the TNI Commander Admiral Yudo Margono in the TNI Rapim a day later.

KSAL said, the Indonesian Navy will rely on cooperation with various stakeholders in efforts to carry out these directives.

"We will cooperate with all maritime stakeholders (stakeholders) related to this, because Indonesia's territory is quite wide, then our ships are limited in number and fuel. For that we need cooperation," said Ali.

This cooperation is not only limited to maritime stakeholders such as the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) and the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), but also with the Indonesian Air Force (AU) and local governments.

"This cooperation is not only carried out by maritime stakeholders, but also with the Air Force, for example, in the future, then also with the local government. Because usually the local government knows better where the smuggling was, where did it come from," said Ali.

TNI Admiral Muhammad Ali also emphasized that his party will continue to synergize with intelligence parties and Indonesian Navy units in the regions to optimize efforts to prevent mineral and coal smuggling.

Previously, President Jokowi ordered the TNI and Polri to maintain the continuity of downstreaming and industrialization of domestic natural resources from potential disturbances, including illegal exports or smuggling.

"If illegal exports, for example, tin is still running, bauxite is still there, coal is still there, state revenues have greatly decreased," said Jokowi while attending the TNI-Polri Rapim in Jakarta, Wednesday (8/2).