Directives of President of the Republic of Indonesia to TNI-Polri Main Command Officials, at the State Palace in Capital Nusantara, North Penajam Paser Regency, East Kalimantan Province, September 12, 2024

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim,

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.
Good afternoon,
May prosperity be upon us all,
Shalom,
Om swastiastu,
Namo buddhaya,
Greetings of Virtue.

Distinguished President-elect for the 2024-2029 term Prabowo Subianto, who also serves as the current Minister of Defense and General (retd.) of the Indonesian National Defense Forces,

Distinguished Ministers of the Indonesia Onward Cabinet whom I cannot name individually, Commander of the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI),

Chief of the Indonesian National Police (Polri),

Chiefs of Indonesian Forces,

Army Chief of Staff, Navy Chief of Staff, and Air Force Chief of Staff; TNI and Polri officials from all over Indonesia,

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Esteemed Guests,

I can see that everyone present here has bright faces. Welcome to the new capital city of Nusantara. Three weeks ago, the Commander of the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) and the National Police Chief expressed a desire to gather Commander of Military Area (Pangdam), Regional Police (Kapolda), Commander of Military Resort (Danrem), Commander of Military District (Dandim), Chief of Police Resort (Kapolres) from across the country.

I asked if they wanted to hold this gathering in Jakarta. They replied, “No, Sir, if possible, we would prefer it to be in Nusantara.”

Why Nusantara? They explained that many people are still unfamiliar with it. They have only seen it on TV, YouTube, or in videos, and they want to experience it firsthand. Please note that Nusantara is still under development and may take 10, 15, or even 20 years to complete. However, I recall the President-elect once saying to me, “I will speed this up, Sir.”

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Why have I invited you to meet in Nusantara? First, I want you all to see Nusantara or yourselves, to witness the progress of this future city and to experience the spirit of transformation firsthand. Why is this important? It’s so that the spirit of transformation can be brought back to your regions, to inspire development in your respective areas. Here, we are committed to creating green buildings, implementing sustainable transportation, and utilizing electricity from renewable energy sources. This is the future of our world and we aim to lead the way.

We understand that every leader must have ideals, a vision, and a grand dream to strive for. For instance, we aim to achieve Indonesia-centric development that promotes equality and justice. Not just Java-centric development, but an inclusive approach for all of Indonesia. We aspire to realize Golden Indonesia by 2045 with a target GDP per capita of US$23,000 in twenty years. What is the purpose of achieving Golden Indonesia 2045? It is to ensure the progress and prosperity of our nation.

To achieve these goals, we must often take significant risks, as any major decision comes with its challenges. And as leaders in the TNI and Polri, you are entrusted with the responsibility and authority at various levels, including districts, cities, provinces, and nationally. It is essential that you have the courage to make decisions and take action, be it through small, medium, or large steps. Everyone must be willing to take bold actions that will have a meaningful impact on our country, starting at the local level and contributing to the national aggregate.

I also want to highlight that the relocation of Nusantara is not merely about moving buildings or relocating a palace. It’s not just about changing a location or workplace. Our greater ambition is to foster a fundamental change in our mindsets, our work patterns, and our work culture. We aim to shift from inefficiency to efficiency, from being stuck in cycles to moving swiftly with clear timelines, and from complexity to simplicity. As I have often stated, in the future, it will be a fast country that prevails over a slow one. Not a large country defeating a small one, but rather one that can adapt and move quickly.

The purpose of changing mindsets, work patterns, and work culture is to cultivate a character reflective of an advanced Indonesian identity and to foster the mentality of a progressive nation. If we do not pursue this transformation, we will struggle to compete with other countries.

This is the spirit I hope you will take back from Nusantara. The spirit of enhancing governance and improving bureaucratic management, both in the TNI and Polri, to ensure that these institutions become more professional. It is essential that the public feels protected, regardless of their social status, whether they are officials, entrepreneurs, street vendors, or drivers. All should feel prioritized in our efforts. You must consistently communicate this vision to your subordinates, driving significant changes in service delivery, governance, and management within your authority.

The spirit of enhancing our self-image and the image of our institutions is essential for ensuring that the TNI and Polri are increasingly loved and trusted by the public. While our current standing may be high, we must continue to strive for improvement to elevate it even further. The uniforms you wear carry significant weight and influence.

If you engage in good deeds, you will earn the love and respect of the people. Let me share some examples. These may seem small, but they are profoundly humanistic. For instance, a police officer in Bandung who assist an orphan with their educational report card, or a TNI personnel helping a mother with a broken-down motorcycle in Pontianak.

These actions exemplify humanistic values, creating a sense of safety and care within the community. Similarly, when the police apprehend armed individuals in Jakarta, it reinforces this sense of protection. As we increase these types of initiatives, they will enhance the institution’s image and build greater trust within the community.

Conversely, engaging in actions that are deemed inappropriate can lead to significant negative consequences. It’s crucial to be cautious about this. For example, involvement in online gambling, abuse, drug offenses, or harassment can severely impact the institution and diminish public trust. Why? In this era of openness, we must all be vigilant. What may seem trivial or minor can quickly escalate into serious issues that disrupt stability if not managed properly. Therefore, I urge you to exercise great care regarding these matters. Our country, Indonesia, needs stability to continue its growth.

We must recognize that many other countries are currently facing significant challenges, struggling to emerge from economic crises. One by one, nations are entering crisis situations as the impacts of COVID-19 continue to affect growth, inflation, unemployment, and job creation. These effects are being felt directly by their citizens, making life very difficult. You can easily Google search the information about the current conditions in Europe, the United States, and various countries in Africa. The situation is far from easy, with 96 countries becoming reliant on the IMF for assistance.

Once again, Indonesia needs stability to grow and to carry out development. A country in conflict cannot build, it’s simply not possible. Just look at the Middle Eastern countries that have been in conflict for years. Have they been able to develop? No, they cannot grow or build effectively.

To maintain stability, we require a professional TNI and Polri that the people trust. This is especially crucial in a world facing turmoil. Geopolitical rivalries, trade wars, and arms races contribute to global uncertainty, making current challenges complex and difficult to resolve on a global scale.

In this abnormal global situation, it becomes challenging to predict economic factors. For example, calculating the dollar to rupiah exchange rate or estimating oil prices for the coming year is fraught with difficulty. Unlike normal conditions, where forecasts are often close to accurate, the current environment is filled with uncertainty, complicating our ability to make reliable calculations.

Our country is currently at a very crucial phase. We must not overlook the fact that next October will see the inauguration of the President-elect and Vice President, just a little over a month away. In November, we will also have simultaneous elections for regional heads, including governors, regents, and mayors. Therefore, I urge the TNI and Polri to diligently maintain the stability that has been upheld thus far. Address small issues promptly to prevent them from escalating into larger problems.

Once again, I urge the TNI and Polri to actively maintain stability and fully support a smooth transition of government. The administration I lead will be succeeded by a new government under General (retd.) Prabowo Subianto. It is essential that this transition process unfolds seamlessly and without disruption. I ask you to fully support the implementation of the regional elections (Pilkada), uphold neutrality, and ensure that the environment remains conducive for these important events.

Lastly, I would like to emphasize the issue of violence against women and children. I urge the TNI and Polri to be the primary institutions that women and children turn to for protection. It is vital that they perceive the TNI and Polri as their first point of contact when seeking help, whether it be from domestic violence, sexual violence, physical abuse, or bullying.

To support this, please empower the non-commissioned officers (Babinsa) and the police’s security and public order officers (Bhabinkamtibmas) as the frontline responders in providing assistance and support.

Before I close, I want to express my deepest gratitude for your dedication and hard work. The achievements of our nation today are undoubtedly linked to the efforts of all TNI and Polri members. I hope that in the future, TNI and Polri will continue to uphold their solidarity and maintain synergy in guarding and protecting our country, Indonesia.

I also want to apologize if, during my ten years of leadership, there have been aspects that you found less than satisfactory or not optimal, whether in policy or our interactions. Whenever I visit the regions, I always meet with the Police Chiefs, Military Commanders, and Regional Police Chiefs. Sometimes I shake hands with some individuals, but there are occasions when I miss shaking hands with others. This can lead to thoughts like, “Why didn’t the president shake my hand, especially since I’m the military commander?” The reality is that if I do not recognize someone, I may not remember which military commander or police chief they are. If I miss shaking hands, it can create misunderstandings, leading to perceptions such as, “The president doesn’t want to shake my hand.”

Once again, I apologize for any shortcomings during my ten years of leadership, whether in policies or interactions. While we are still in Nusantara, we will take a group photo after this activity, and I will also take you on a tour. I understand that it may not be feasible for the TNI and Polri to visit the National Axis on their own, but I would like to invite you to join me. You are also welcome to explore on your own to see the area.

That concludes my remarks on this auspicious occasion.

I thank you.

Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

(RIF/EP)