President Joko Widodo or Jokowi appointed Kasad General TNI Andika Perkasa as a candidate for TNI Commander in Chief to replace Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto. The Fit and Proper Test on Andika will be held on November 6 tomorrow.
The National Police Headquarters believes that the appointment of Andika Perkasa as a Candidate for the Commander of the Indonesian Armed Forces is President Jokowi’s best choice.
“Yes, of course, the President’s choice is the best,” said the Head of the Public Relations Division of the National Police, Inspector General Raden Prabowo Argo Yuwono, when confirmed, Friday (11/5).
According to Argo, the TNI-Polri synergy will continue to be maintained regardless of who is the TNI Commander who will later serve.
“And from the police, there is no problem who is the Commander in Chief, we can still maintain and guarantee synergy,” said Argo.
Previously, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud Md believed that General TNI Andika Perkasa was very competent to be the successor to the TNI Commander’s baton. According to Mahfud, Andika Perkasa is a professional and the best officer in the land dimension.
“I am sure that General Andika is very qualified. If the position has reached the Chief of Staff of the Army, both Land and Sea and Air, he must be the best person in his dimension,” Mahfud said in a statement received, Thursday (4/11/2021).
Mahfud added that President Joko Widodo’s election of Andika was based on the current comprehensive challenges and actual needs. He also emphasized that the release of Andika’s name was without intervention and was purely the prerogative of President Joko Widodo.
“The president’s choice is correct and steady in accordance with his prerogatives, he is not swayed by irrelevant opinions,” said Mahfud.
Personally, Mahfud admitted that he had been working with Andika Perkasa for two years. The former judge of the Constitutional Court (MK) also feels the fit to work together to maintain political stability, law and state security if Andika officially serves as TNI Commander.
“So we just need to continue what we have been doing together with Hadi Tjahjanto. Andika is firm but full of smiles and always correct. Same with Hadi Tjahjanto, both of them are professional, humanist soldiers, and are thick with Indonesian culture,” explained Mahfud.