Suara.com – The Civil Society Coalition for Security Sector Reform has detected nepotism behind the appointment of TNI General Agus Subiyanto as the sole candidate for TNI Commander.
“Unfortunately, this is precisely what we signal is happening, namely the phenomenon of nepotism in terms of changing the TNI Commander in Chief,” wrote the Civil Society Coalition in a statement quoted by Suara.com, Monday (6/11/2023).
The Civil Society Coalition argued that General Agus had always been close to President Joko Widodo or Jokowi.
“The phenomenon of nepotism is very pronounced considering the background of the close relationship between Joko Widodo and Agus Subiyanto when they respectively served as heads of government and territorial units in the city of Surakarta, Solo,” he said.
Apart from that, the Civil Coalition is of the view that the appointment of Agus as the sole candidate for TNI Commander is closely related to political interests.
“The practice of changing Commanders like this clearly reduces the need for regeneration and rotation of TNI dimensions which are characterized by certain goals and motives that lead to practical politics,” explained the Civil Coalition.
In this case, the Civil Coalition mentioned Jokowi’s girlfriends in the 2024 presidential election, namely encouraging his son Gibran Rakabuming Raka as one of the candidates.
“We view that the name Agus Subiyanto is vulnerable to political dimensions. This proposed name also has great potential for misuse by the President for the 2024 election contest,” explained the Civil Coalition.
Therefore, it is natural that the Civil Society Coalition is worried about the potential for politicization within the TNI during the 2024 elections if Agus later becomes Commander in Chief.
“Even though President Jokowi will no longer run for president, in the upcoming contest there is Jokowi’s biological son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who will contest in the next election,” he added.
Previously, the Chair of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, confirmed that she had received a presidential letter (Surpres) regarding the replacement of the TNI Commander, Admiral TNI Yudo Margono. Puan said her replacement candidate was TNI General Agus Subiyanto.
Agus was the only name proposed by President Jokowi to become a candidate for TNI Commander.
“On this occasion I will announce the replacement candidate for TNI Commander Admiral TNI Yudo Margono, the name proposed by the President is TNI General Agus Subiyanto SE, MSI, who currently serves as Army Chief of Staff,” said Puan at the Senayan Parliament Complex, Newsdelivers.com , Tuesday (31/10/2023).
Meanwhile, Member of Commission I DPR, Dave Laksono, said that the fit and proper test for the TNI Commander candidate will be held on November 14 2023.
“Ready, the plan is November 14,” said Dave when confirmed by Suara.com, Wednesday (1/11/2023).