Haeril Halim and Marguerite Afra Sapiie, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has told the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Police (Polri) to put aside their egos and collaborate to address the challenges faced by the country.
Jokowi told hundreds of Military Academy and National Police Academy graduates that the country faced multidimensional challenges, including the deterioration of Pancasila state ideology values, a rise in violence, anarchy and terrorism and rampant drug smuggling.
Jokowi further said the military and the police could help the country face global challenges, such as border disputes, state conflicts, asymmetrical wars, energy reserve struggles, weaponry competition and the phenomenon of foreign terrorists.
"In facing these challenges, I remind TNI and the police to keep their synergy and work hand in hand for the sake of the [country's] interests. Eliminate sectoral ego and increase solidarity," Jokowi said in a speech during the inauguration of the 729 military and police personnel at the State Palace on Tuesday.
The President went on to tell the graduates that the inauguration ceremony was only the start of their careers to become military and police personnel who were expected to be loyal and devoted to the state, the nation and the people of Indonesia.
"Remember that all of you are the future of the TNI and Polri. You are going to shape and adopt bureaucratic reforms so that the TNI and Polri will always be able to counterbalance, or even precede the development of modern challenges," Jokowi said. (ebf)