President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has ordered the new Army Chief of Staff General Dudung Abdurachman to assist in the implementation of the government’s program for boosting community welfare.

Abdurachman conveyed Jokowi’s order during a press statement at the State Palace on Wednesday after his inauguration as the new Army chief and his promotion to become General from his former rank, Lieutenant General.

“The president ordered all ranks of the Indonesian Army to assist the government in implementing their programs,” Abdurachman remarked.

Abdurachman echoed his administration’s readiness to help the government’s program for boosting the community’s welfare.

Furthermore, the 1988 Military Academy graduate noted that Jokowi had also advised him to boost the soldiers’ welfare.

“The president also ordered me to improve the soldiers’ welfare, as they were the frontliners of this country,” he added.

Abdurachman vowed to remind all soldiers of the Indonesian Army to follow the National Defense Forces (TNI)’s eight  guidelines, particularly the eighth one.

“Being an example and pioneering all efforts to overcome the difficulties of people around us. The Indonesian Army must be present for the community during difficult times,” he explained.

Abdurachman emphasized that he would continue to implement the vision and mission of  TNI Commander General Andika Perkasa. He also lauded the work of Perkasa, who had earlier served as Army chief.

“We will continue what had been started in the Indonesian Army,” he noted.

Abdurachman, who graduated from the 1988 Military Academy from the infantry branch, earlier served as commander of the Army’s Strategic and Reserve Command (Pangkostrad) after holding the posts of Jayakarta Regional Military Commander (Pangdam Jaya) in 2020-2021 and Governor of the Military Academy in 2018-2020.

He gained popularity among members of the public when he erected the Soekarno Statue at the Military Academy in Magelang, Central Java. Indonesia’s fifth President Megawati Soekarnoputri, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, and Indonesian House Speaker Puan Maharani attended the statue’s inauguration.

While serving as  Jayakarta Regional Military Commander , he was known for his proposal to disband the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) if the organization continued to violate legal provisions.

He also ordered Jayakarta Regional Military Command’s soldiers to remove the unauthorized Habib Rizieq Shihab’s billboard.

Source: Antara News