DPR Reminds TNI Commander General Agus About Soldier Welfare

Battalion 433 Kostrad Task Force built a connecting bridge between Dal District and Mbua District. Photo via @Puspen_TNI

JAKARTA - Commission I of the DPR hopes that the replacement of the TNI Commander from Admiral Yudo Margono to General Agus Subiyanto can improve the welfare of soldiers and ensure the neutrality of the TNI in the 2024 election.

With the change of the new TNI Commander, Member of Commission I DPR Junico Siahaan hopes that there will be efforts to improve the welfare of soldiers considering that resource management in military institutions is very important in the defense system.

"The welfare of soldiers is something that needs to be fought for as part of the harmony of the development of strong professionalism and TNI institutions," said the man who is familiarly called Nico Siahaan, Thursday, November 23.

The issue of the welfare of soldiers is considered necessary to emphasize to the new TNI Commander because it involves the existence of the TNI in carrying out its duties and functions as a national defense guard. Nico asked General Agus to fight for the needs of every TNI personnel in carrying out their duties and responsibilities as soldiers.

"The increase in the welfare of soldiers greatly affects the professionalism of the TNI in its duty and shows its existence as the main guard of the defense and security guard of the motherland," he said.

Nico detailed that one of the efforts to improve the welfare of soldiers is to improve official housing facilities for TNI soldiers. Even though the top leadership changed, he hoped that the TNI would continue to consistently realize the needs of its soldiers.

"Outside of housing, aspects that are also focused on the agenda of improving the welfare of soldiers can be in the form of increasing income and providing health services for soldiers and family members," said Nico.

"In addition, it is also necessary to ensure old-age guarantees for TNI members who have completed their service period," he continued.

Nico also said that the DPR continues to support efforts to improve the welfare of soldiers. As in the budgeting side where the DPR through Commission I has approved the addition of a budget of IDR 1.67 trillion for the TNI and the Ministry of Defense (Kemenhan) in the 2024 State Budget.

The additional budget with a value of Rp. 1,671,963,798,000 is to accommodate the plan to increase 8 percent of the salaries of TNI soldiers and ASN of the Ministry of Defense.

"This is proof of the DPR's commitment to fighting for the improvement of the welfare of soldiers who are very vigilant for the state because they are willing to sacrifice in carrying out heavy tasks, especially for TNI personnel assigned to vulnerable areas," Nico explained.

"The soldiers who risk their lives need to get good welfare guarantees, including for their families. This is so that when carrying out their duties, soldiers feel calm when they know their families are guaranteed," he continued.

In addition to the welfare of soldiers, Nico also emphasized the importance of modernizing the main weapon system (alutsista). According to him, the rejuvenation of defense equipment must be an important part of investment development in the Indonesian defense sector.

"Buying defense equipment can certainly support the development of the TNI's strength in terms of realizing the national goals stated in the mandate of the 1945 Constitution, protecting all Indonesians and all of Indonesia's blood," Nico explained.

With a limited budget, but the TNI is required to rejuvenate its defense equipment, Niko hopes that the chiefs of staff from the three dimensions can prepare which defense equipment priorities will be modernized.

"We at Commission I certainly understand this condition, so we try our best to fight for adequate budgeting for the TNI so that it is truly ideal to protect the territory of the Republic of Indonesia," said Nico.