Istman MP, Jakarta – President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has revealed the reason to nominate Marshall Hadi Tjahjanto for the Armed Forces (TNI) chief. Jokowi said that Marshall Hadi has strong leadership skills and ability to make the TNI more professional.
The nomination of Marshall Hadi Tjahjanto was revealed on Monday morning when State Secretary Minister Pratikno met the House of Representatives (DPR) to forward a nomination letter for Hadi to replace the TNI chief General Gatot Nurmantyo.
President Jokowi said that he has nominated Tjahjanto as Nurmantyo is retiring. "It's a normal mechanism because Pak Gatot is retiring," he said.
He added that Hadi will still have to undergo a fit and proper test at the DPR before replacing Gatot.
Earlier, many said that Jokowi's decision to nominate Hadi was taken to accelerate Gatot's retirement. Tempo gathered that in the letter sent to the DPR the President has planned an honorable discharge for Gatot.
"The mechanism [nomination to the DPR] will be followed. We nominate Hadi Tjahjanto, the Air Force chief of staff, for the TNI chief for the DPR approval," the President concluded.
Hadi is not new to President Joko Widodo. The former served as the commander of Adi Sumarmo Airbase in Solo when Jokowi was Solo Mayor. The rule says that all chiefs of staff have the same opportunity to be named, appointed and sworn in as the TNI chief.
In early reform era, many suggested that the position of TNI chief be held in turn by three chiefs of staff: the Army, the Navy and the Air Forces. The proposal never materialized due to the dynamics of Indonesia politics and the fact that the president reserves the prerogative to nominate the TNI chief.