REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Presidential candidate No. 3 Ganjar Pranowo is pushing for an Indonesian defense white paper to be prepared immediately. This was stated by Ganjar after attending a meeting with TPC and coalition party candidates at D'pillars Resto Cilacap, Central Java, Tuesday (9/1/2024).
Initially, he said the purchase of the main tool of the weapons system (alutsista) remained the implementation of the Government-to-Government or Government-to-Government (G2G) system.
“(The purchase of alutsista) doesn't involve anyone actually. In an important government context, what matters to me is government,” Ganjar said.
Therefore, the government should keep developing the domestic defense industry. Ganjar pointed out that PT PAL Indonesia has produced submarines in cooperation with South Korea.
According to him, the development of domestic industry should be continued and improved because it is the child power of the nation.
The former Central Java governor added that in order to strengthen the country's defense and security, consistency in planning is essential.
“So, consistency in planning is important, don't go back and forth. Again it matters. So it is necessary to draw up a white paper on Indonesia's defense,” he concluded.
The Indonesian Defense White Book is a mandate of the Republic of Indonesia Act No. 3 of 2002 on State Defense. Article 16 paragraph 4 explains the “defence white paper” is a thorough defence policy statement published by the Minister and disseminated to the general public, both domestic and international in order to create mutual trust and negate potential conflicts.
The Election Commission (KPU) of RI has designated the candidates for the 2024 Presidential and Vice President election, namely Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar 1st, Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka 2nd, and Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud Md 3rd.
The Commission has also set a campaign period from November 28, 2023 to February 10, 2024, then schedule a vote on February 14, 2024.