TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The newly inaugurated presidential chief of staff Moeldoko responded to talks about his and Agum Gumelar`s inauguration that is said to add a list of military retirees into President Joko Widodo or Jokowi working cabinet.

Public opinion that currently arose suggests that President Jokowi is attempting to strengthen the support from the military in facing the 2019 Presidential Election. However, Moeldoko argues that the increasing number of military retirees has no correlation with the public’s assumption.

“I think it is just to add the variety. Things are better if it there is more variation,” said Moeldoko in answering questions from journalists at the Presidential Palace on Wednesday, January 17.

Moeldoko does not deny that President Jokowi might actually have been driven by alternative reasons to elect him. He asserted that he would perform his job the best he can following the president’s trust in him to lead the presidential staff.

“When I served in the military, a task is an honor. Honor is everything,” said Moeldoko.

Regarding the questions asked by journalists, President Jokowi himself responded by asking why journalists constantly ask about the reason behind Moeldoko’s inauguration.

ISTMAN MP