TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Chief of the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) General Moeldoko should cancel the appointment of Dato Sri Tahir as his advisor.
Involving the boss of Mayapada Group in the internal affairs of the TNI would only taint the image of the military.
Tahir is clearly a businessman, not a military expert or an experienced advisor whose advise are worth listening to.
Tasks assigned by the TNI commander to Tahir were rather odd. He will be in charge of the welfare of the soldiers. In the near future, Tahir will also build 1,000 residential units of soldiers, located not far from the capital city of Jakarta. Once the project is completed, Tahir will offer similar homes in every province across the country.
This is the role used as an excuse by Moeldoko to appoint Tahir as advisor. This businessman is considered to have a big contribution to promote welfare of the soldiers. The TNI chief also said there are about 250,000 soldiers who are now occupying the barracks. He claimed that it is impossible for them to have their own home if the rely on the tight military budget.
The concern of the TNI chief for the fate of soldiers is commendable indeed. However, he should not hand over the affairs of the welfare of soldiers to entrepreneurs.
In accordance with the Law No. 34 of 2004 on the TNI, military needs, including food, clothing, and shelter soldiers shall be paid for by the state. If there are budget shortfalls, TNI Commander may submit additional budget to the state through the Minister of Defense.
Relying on the help of employers will serve as a reminder of what TNI did in the New Order era.
At that time, military TNI officials were very close to the business community. They tended to give protection to a particular employer, giving rise to unhealthy business competition. Obviously, businessmen who got special treatment from the military then often mad donations to the army officials.
That pattern continued when the military played a very central political role in the country. This "symbiotic mutualism" relation also happened in the regions across the country areas and tended to destroy the professionalism of the military.
In practice, supports from employers were more widely enjoyed by the officers rather than soldiers. It would be strange when this sort of thing would be manifested again in the current reformation era.
If it is true that Tahir wants to sincerely help, he should by way of grants. The mechanism to receive assistance is regulated in the Government Regulation No. 10 of 2011 on Procedures Grants. Donations can be made directly in the form of grants to the military, but also must be reported to the government.
Contributing housing for soldiers without grant mechanism will only arouse suspicion, let alone with the appointment of Tahir as an adviser to the military chief.
This appointment only indicates there will be something in return for donations that he has or will give.
The TNI chief should revoke this controversial decision in order to maintain the credibility of the TNI.
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