Mahfud Md: We Need TNI Help to Combat Covid-19

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud Md said the TNI's duties could not be limited to national defense alone. In certain matters, in this case Covid-19 relief, the TNI is also needed to help deal with issues of security and public order.

"In dealing with Covid-19, without the TNI's involvement we would be overwhelmed. To ensure that the distribution of social assistance is in order, we need the TNI," Mahfud said in an online discussion held by Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC), August 23.

Mahfud's statement came as a response to the result of a survey by SMRC, which was held from August 12-15. Around 74 percent of respondents said that TNI should specifically work to defend the national security from external and domestic threats during a state of emergency as declared by the nation's leader.

The survey also revealed that 57 percent respondents said that TNI should not be involved with issues of security and public order. Meanwhile, 59 percent agreed that all matters of security, order and law enforcement in society were the duty of the Police.

"To this day, we cannot have the TNI to deal with defense alone - it's not black and white. The TNI also has military operations, besides war," said Mahfud Md.

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