Lawmaker Calls On Jokowi To Replace TNI Chief Soon

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) should soon replace National Defense Forces (TNI) Chief General Gatot Nurmantyo, who will enter retirement in March 2018, a lawmaker said.

The House of Representatives (DPR) Commission I needs adequate time to endorse a TNI chief candidate proposed by the president, Deputy Chairman of the House Commission I TB Hasanuddin stated in a discussion here on Thursday.

Moreover, DPR members will enter a recess period, starting from December 13, 2017. During the recess period, they will visit their respective constituents until Jan 14, 2018, he noted.

They will return to work in the parliament from mid January to March 2018 and later enter another recess period, he added.

"So if (a TNI chief candidate is not proposed) during this current working period, we fear we will not have enough time. It is likely that we will have a TNI chief with retirement status," he remarked.

The lawmaker of the Indonesian democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) revealed that the president should start the process of replacing the TNI chief this month as the new TNI chief will start his work by early January 2018 to secure the simultaneous regional head elections.

"The new TNI chief should prepare the assistance for the police to secure the elections. The new TNI chief needs at least a month or two to prepare soldiers to assist the police during the elections," he pointed out.

Meanwhile, Imparsial Director Al Araf also urged Jokowi to start the process of replacing TNI chief soon. "It (the process) should be started later this month or by early December 2017 at the latest," he reiterated. (WDY)