Admiral Margono to maintain public trust in TNI, says President Jokowi
Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) asked the newly inaugurated Indonesia Defense Forces (TNI) Commander, Admiral Yudo Margono, to maintain public trust in TNI by boosting the professionalism of all soldiers.
“Admiral Margono must be able to increase public trust in the TNI, which is now at its highest. This trust must be maintained with professionalism within the TNI that must be continuously improved,” Jokowi stated after the inauguration of Admiral Yudo Margono as TNI commander at the State Palace, here, Monday.
He also reminded Margono to continue to maintain the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of the Republic of Indonesia.
Speaking in response to the political year leading up to the 2024 election, Jokowi urged Margono to ensure that the TNI would remain neutral. The TNI should also maintain synergy with the National Police to keep the national situation conducive.
“(It is) because political stability and security stability are important in the framework of the country’s development. Our economic development is also in an uncertain situation due to global uncertainty,” Jokowi noted.
Meanwhile, Margono said the directives given by President Jokowi had become his priority as TNI commander.
“The first task is to protect sovereignty, to maintain unity, and then to protect and defend the TNI that has become the people’s trust. Those are my priorities,” he stated.
Margono said he would hold a meeting with former TNI Commander General Andika Perkasa in order to formulate policies that aligned the closest with the priorities as TNI commander.
“I will conduct entry briefing first. I will then gather the staff and chief of staff to formulate it. After that, I will take concrete steps according to my priority program,” he remarked.
Margono was officially appointed by President Jokowi as TNI commander at the State Palace, Jakarta, according to Presidential Decree of the Republic of Indonesia (Keppres) Number 91 TNI concerning the Dismissal and Appointment of the Commander of the Indonesian Defense Forces that was stipulated in Jakarta on December 19, 2022. The Admiral replaced General Andika Perkasa, who will retire at the end of December 2022.
