President Jokowi inaugurates Maruli Simanjuntak as Army Chief

Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) inaugurated Commander of the Army Strategic Reserve Command (Pangkostrad) Lieutenant General Maruli Simanjuntak as the Army Chief of Staff (KSAD) and elevated him to the rank of General.

The inauguration ceremony took place at the State Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday, in accordance with Presidential Decree Number 103/TNI/2023 concerning the dismissal and appointment of the Indonesian army chief of staff.

While taking the oath of office, Simanjuntak vowed to remain loyal to the 1945 Constitution and uphold all laws and regulations strictly for the sake of service to the nation and state.

“In carrying out my duties, I will uphold office ethics, work to the best of my ability, and with a full sense of responsibility, that I will uphold the soldier’s oath,” he said.

With the inauguration, he was promoted to the rank of General.

During the inauguration ceremony, the President administered the oath of office to General Simanjuntak. This was followed by the signing of the official report on the appointment of the oath of office.

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan; Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD; Home Minister Tito Karnavian; and Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto, also attended the ceremony.

Simanjuntak took over as the army chief on Wednesday from General Agus Subiyanto, who has been appointed the TNI Commander.

Born on February 27, 1970, Simanjuntak graduated from the Military Academy in 1992 from the Army’s Special Strike Force (Kopassus) Infantry branch and the Cakra Combat Detachment.

He is also the son-in-law of Minister Pandjaitan, who attended the inauguration after undergoing health treatment and recovery in Singapore.