Fajarasia.co – Chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, attended a ceremony to commemorate the 77th Anniversary of the TNI at the Merdeka Palace, Central Jakarta. He also hopes that the TNI will be more united so that it can carry out its duties optimally.
“On behalf of the Indonesian House of Representatives, I wish you a happy 77th anniversary for all TNI soldiers. Happy TNI. Jaya is always on land, sea and air,” said Puan, Wednesday (5/10/2022).
The first woman to serve as Chair of the Indonesian House of Representatives also hopes that the TNI can increase its solidity. According to Puan, harmony within the TNI is absolutely necessary so that all soldiers can work well as security units and guards of state sovereignty.
“In upholding state sovereignty and protecting the entire nation and the entire homeland of Indonesia from threats and disturbances, all TNI soldiers must be united. Tri Dharma Eka Karma,” he said.
“The TNI leadership must also be united in facing the dynamics of national politics. This is important considering the heating up of national politics,” added Puan.
The former Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture reminded the TNI to always be neutral. Moreover, said Puan, Indonesia is already facing political years ahead of the 2024 General Election.
“The TNI should not be influenced, let alone be dragged into practical politics. TNI must be neutral in politics because TNI politics is state politics according to its main duties and functions. All TNI soldiers must work professionally,” he said.
On the other hand, Puan appreciated the TNI soldiers who have given their best service in maintaining the sovereignty and defense of the nation and state. Especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, the TNI is one of the front lines in providing assistance to the people.
“During the Covid-19 pandemic, TNI soldiers proved to have become real people’s soldiers. I know very well that many soldiers enter remote villages to provide assistance to the people,” said Puan.
“TNI soldiers also always help the Government in handling the Covid-19 pandemic, including participating in the success of the vaccination program in the midst of its main tasks,” continued the grandson of the proclaimer of Indonesia, Bung Karno.
Even so, Puan assessed that this has not been followed by the fulfillment of welfare for soldiers. In fact, the level of public satisfaction with the work of the TNI is quite high.
“DPR hopes that the government will increase efforts to meet the welfare of soldiers. Either from the performance allowance (tukin) or a decent living place for soldiers,” said Puan.
According to data from the Ministry of Defense, until now the TNI is still short of 237,735 housing units or 51.7 percent of the need for 459,514 housing units. Meanwhile, based on Article 50 Paragraph 2 of Law Number 34 of 2004 concerning the TNI, soldiers are entitled to basic needs, including housing.
Not ideally, the fulfillment of official housing is enough to burden enlisted soldiers and non-commissioned officers who generally earn between Rp. 3.5 to Rp. 6 million per month. Therefore, Puan encourages the Government to immediately meet the basic needs of these soldiers.
“Don’t let the best servants of our country have trouble meeting the needs of them and their families. TNI soldiers are willing to sacrifice their lives for the sake of Indonesian bloodshed. It is the duty of the State to meet their needs,” he said.
Furthermore, Puan emphasized the importance of fulfilling the Minimum Essential Force (MEF) which is the standard of the TNI’s basic and minimum strength which is absolutely prepared as the main prerequisite for the implementation of the effectiveness of the TNI’s main tasks and functions in dealing with actual threats. Since 2010, the Government has implemented the MEF policy to achieve Minimum Basic Strengths in three stages or strategic plans (strategic plans).
Puan understands that achieving the ideal military defense posture cannot be realized in a short time, especially since the realization of the MEF also adjusts state finances. Even so, it is said that the DPR will continue to provide support according to its authority.
“The Indonesian House of Representatives certainly understands these conditions, so they are trying their best to fight for an adequate budget for the TNI so that the TNI’s MEF is truly ideal to protect the very large territory of the Republic of Indonesia,” said Puan.
Currently, the MEF has entered stage III for the 2019-2024 period, which is targeted to reach 70 percent by the end of 2024. The fulfillment of the MEF stage III departs from the achievement of the MEF stage II for the 2014-2019 period which reached around 62 percent of the target of 74.62 percent.
“This means that the readiness of the forces of the three dimensions of the TNI is still not optimal in supporting national defense efforts which continue to be faced with the dynamics of threats,” he said.
The implementation of the TNI’s MEF development is carried out through four strategies which include revitalization, rematerialization, relocation, and procurement. The national defense development policy towards minimum basic strength has an agenda for national defense development policies that lead to the modernization of the main weapon system (alutsista), increasing the professionalism of the TNI, and increasing the welfare of soldiers.
“It takes a joint effort and commitment between the Government, the TNI, and the DPR, in achieving the MEF target in the Strategic Plan Phase III which will end in 2024,” explained Puan.
Fulfillment of the MEF is considered very important considering that the current state of the TNI’s defense equipment system has an average lifespan of 25-40 years. Puan said the MEF also had a significant influence on the TNI’s strength in countering various threats to border issues in the outer islands such as in Natuna to cyber defense threats.
“The DPR RI also realizes that the need for the TNI is not only a defense system that is physically used for military purposes, but also requires strength in dealing with non-physical threats, especially related to cyber attacks,” he explained.
For that, Puan hopes that in the future the TNI can respond and anticipate
dynamics of geopolitical developments as well as new battlefields that are influenced by cyber and technology. Because cyber attacks appear as a new threat to Indonesia’s defense from military and non-military aspects.
The fulfillment of the MEF as a national defense strategy initiative must be maximized. This is because the MEF also includes broad-based military capacity building, which does not only focus on the development of defense equipment, but also on improving the quality of TNI personnel.
“Cyber attacks can threaten sovereignty, territorial integrity and security
nation’s safety. So it is important to accommodate the development of cyber-defense as outlined in the MEF,” concluded Puan.****
