General Andika’s Nomination Believed to go Smoothly at DPR

KOMPAS/NINO CITRA ANUGRAHANTO

Army Chief of Staff General Andika Perkasa

JAKARTA, KOMPAS - President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has formally submitted a letter to the House of Representatives (DPR) on the nomination of Army Chief of Staff General Andika Perkasa to become the next commander of the Indonesian Military (TNI) to replace Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, who will retire soon. Factions of political parties at the DPR mostly welcomed Andika's nomination, giving him a smooth path in the confirmation hearing at the DPR.

The President's letter regarding the nomination of General Andika to become the TNI commander was formally submitted by State Secretary Pratikno to House Speaker Puan Maharani in Jakarta on Wednesday (11/3/2021). The nomination also stopped public speculation in recent months about Hadi's successor as TNI commander.

Puan said the DPR would immediately respond to the President's letter regarding General Andika’s nomination to become the TNI commander by holding a confirmation hearing on 4 to 5 Nov. The confirmation hearing will be carried out by the House’s Commission I. Puan said the House’s Steering Committee (Bamus) had decided that the results of the confirmation hearing would be brought to the House’s plenary session on 8 Nov. for approval. "So, in the next five days, the DPR should have made the decision regarding the candidate for the TNI commander," said Puan.

KOMPAS/HENDRA A SETYAWAN

DPR Speaker Puan Maharani (second from left) accompanied by DPR Deputy Speakers Lodewijk F Paulus (right) and Rachmat Gobel (left) received a letter from the President regarding the proposed name of the candidate for TNI commander, which was brought by Minister of State Secretary Pratiknyo (second from right) at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Wednesday (3/11/2021).

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The leaders of a number of factions at the DPR welcomed General Andika's nomination. The Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) faction chairman Utut Adianto said his faction supported the President's proposal. Andika's nomination, said Utut, was the right decision. As a high-ranking army officer, Andika understands very well about the territorial concepts and regions that should receive special attention such as Papua and other potentially volatile areas.

The deputy chairman of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) faction, Sukamta, said Andika was the most senior officer among all the chiefs of staff in the three divisions of the TNI. "General Andika also fits to face the challenges of the current defense and security situation, both domestically and abroad," he said.

He deserves to be the commander-in-chief because of his abilities and criteria to face the current challenges that are in front of us.

Meanwhile, the former head of the State Intelligence Agency, AM Hendropriyono, hoped that his son-in-law, Andika, would be able to carry out his duties and obligations as well as possible according to the Soldier's Oath and the Sapta Marga (soldiers’ seven-point commitment). “He deserves to be the commander-in-chief because of his abilities and criteria to face the current challenges that are in front of us, starting from domestic security ahead of the 2024 General Election, regional security related to our region, such as the South China Sea, and in facing future technological challenges which are no longer 4.0, but 5.0," said Hendropriyono.

The founder of the Institute for Security and Strategic Studies, Khairul Fahmi, said Andika would serve for approximately one year because he will retire at the end of 2022.

Several things that require Andika's attention are the dynamics related to the South China Sea, TNI organizational development, human resource development and soldier careers, promotions and transfers, as well as the synergy between TNI and the National Police (Polri) institutions. (REK/NIA/EDN/HAR).

This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi.