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Jokowi approves new TNI deputy CO position
Gen
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Gen. Moeldoko - JP/Ricky Yudhistira
Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. Moeldoko will soon have a deputy, with President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo already signing off on the proposal, with a decision on who will fill the role to be made public later this month.
'The President has given his approval [to the idea] and we are waiting for his decision [on who will fill the post],' Moeldoko said in an interview with The Jakarta Post at TNI headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta on Wednesday.
Moeldoko said that as a well-functioning organization, the TNI needed a deputy commander to assist his work as the commander, especially when he had to take leave, travel overseas or when the TNI was dealing with an urgent situation.
'The deputy commander can decide what is to be done and the chief of staff in each force doesn't need to wait for an order from the military commander to take action,' Moeldoko said.
He also said that by reviving the position of deputy military commander, the TNI would abolish the chief of general staff (Kasum) position.
The deputy commander is expected to start working on the organizational arrangement of the TNI, so that the commander can pay more attention to the welfare and well-being of TNI personnel.
'How can a military commander stay in the office all the time? He should meet TNI personnel more often,' Moeldoko said.
As TNI commander, Moeldoko is in charge of all TNI personnel as well as eight battalions in peacekeeping operations abroad and 12 battalions involved in various domestic security operations.
The TNI has around 500,000 personnel.
The deputy commander position was created in 1998 when Gen. (ret) Wiranto led the military, which was then known as the Indonesian Armed Forces (ABRI). Wiranto also served as defense minister during that time.
Then president Abdurrahman 'Gus Dur' Wahid abolished the post in September 2000 to streamline the TNI.
Moeldoko's plan to bring it back has been criticized as unnecessary and redundant, with the potential to create inefficiencies and overlapping policies.
Military expert Mufti Makarim said the new position would create new problems, including compromising the singular vision of a strong military chief.
'The military commander is the leader and the deputy should work under the commander,' TNI spokesperson Maj. Gen. Fuad Basya said.
According to Fuad, even though the deputy commander would have authority to act on behalf of his superior, the deputy would obey the chain of command.
Despite Jokowi's approval of the new position, Moeldoko declined to disclose who would be appointed.
'We have the President's decision, but we have yet to decide [who will occupy the position],' he said.
Moeldoko also said candidates for the deputy commander position would be of a four-star general
ranking.
The deputy commander would also not come from the Army.
'If the military chief is from Army, the deputy will be either from the Navy or Air Force,' Moeldoko said.
