Gen. (ret) Moeldoko (JP/Wendra Ajistyatama)

The appointment of former Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. (ret) Moeldoko to lead the Office of Presidential Staff (KSP) has lent color to the presidency of Joko “Jokowi” Widodo. His military background and strategically close position with the President, who eyes reelection next year, has given rise to speculation about the general’s special role within the Presidential Palace. He recently talked to The Jakarta Post’s Marguerite Afra Sapiie, Dicky Christianto, Dwi Atmanta and Imanuddin Razak about the tasks and roles of the KSP ahead of regional elections this year and general elections next year.

Question: Can you elaborate on the roles and tasks of the KSP?

 Answer: Our tasks are as mandated by Presidential Regulation No. 26/2015 on the Office of the Presidential Staff. First is to assist the President and Vice President on national strategic projects, second is to assist the state leadership on political communication, and third is to assist them in dealing with the country’s strategic issues.

Strategic projects are, among others, the construction of ports, toll roads and roads in border areas. There are also projects on human resource development, such as the Indonesia Healthy Card (KIS) and Indonesia Smart Card (KIP). We also monitor the government’s land reform program […], and if there are any bottlenecks, we seek ways to resolve the issues.

As for political communication, the KSP receives members of the public almost every day, [ranging from] millennials and Indonesian students studying abroad to women’s rights and human rights activists […]. We receive anyone who wants to submit reports or have a discussion with us.

In the context of political communication, are the KSP’s tasks limited to state institutions and officials or also to accommodate non-state institutions, such as political parties and civil society groups?

All of them […]. Here we try to act as an institution that can bridge [the aspirations] of various interests. Not only on political issues, but also social issues that are perhaps difficult to handle. The KSP tries to discuss [the issues] with various ministries.

For example, [there are] non-permanent staff (PTT) midwives who have struggled for a long time to become civil servants. Through the KSP, we mobilize various institutions and [the problem] is expected to be settled in the near future. We expect that everything can be accommodated through the KSP.

Is the political communication that you build and create also related to the President’s reelection bid for 2019?

Oh, no, no. We [in the KSP] are employees, ranging from civil servants to professionals. We are not allowed to be involved in practical politics. The political communication in this case is the matter of state politics, such as the process of policymaking, which starts with the inputs — the process during which [inputs] are blended — followed by the outputs and feedback. That is the political process we’ve been conducting, because the purpose is to ensure that we [the government] create a policy that benefits the nation. So, we must not [engage ourselves in practical politics], or else the KSP would become a political tool for those in power.

There is a thin line between the KSP’s tasks and its potential to become a government’s political tool. What about the internal checks and balances?

Emotional intelligence is at work there. If our emotional intelligence does not work, it might eventually bring us down, but the public can, in fact, see, criticize and control our actions.

Some have insinuated that you are paving the way as a vice presidential candidate. Any comment?

Well, that is a question that arises every now and then, but the thing is, I have proved that in every place I have worked I always focused on my job and never thought about other things. Otherwise I would be a half-hearted [and] greedy person. [I] have been assigned by Jokowi as the presidential chief of staff, so [I] work as well as possible to provide the best for the president and for the country. […] there are indeed such questions [on a vice-presidential candidacy] and I answer them easily, because […] I don’t have any interest in that, and I don’t feel burdened [to become a candidate].

How are your daily relations with Jokowi outside of work?

As a staff member, I am quite close with him. We can communicate freely, so I suppose I don’t have any psychological obstacles. What is more important is that I have to deliver [information] as it is, even though it might be uncomfortable [for the president] to take. As the head KSP […] I must speak honestly without adding or reducing anything, because if the KSP lied to the President, who else would be his final filter? I think [our] human relationship is good.

How is your political communication with the TNI?

I often communicate with the leaders [of the military], the TNI commander, the National Police chief and also the State Intelligence Agency chief. We communicate and are building true solidarity, [because] we want all state institutions to have responsibility, […] greater awareness and to not hesitate in taking action, given that [they] must face the political years […]. Moreover, [I] assist, particularly the TNI commander, in military consolidation.

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