REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MALANG -- Indonesia needs a transformational leader and not a transactional one, defense minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said here on Saturday.

"Right now we need a transformational leader who is creative and can become an agent of change, not a transactional leader who would only do things which are formal and bureaucratic," he said during his lecture at the conclusion of "Student Day" at Islamic Muhammadiyah University in Malang, East Java, here on Saturday.

The minister said many leaders in the country are still transactional, though such a leader is already outdated.

He said a transformational leader must be ready not only to be heard, but also to listen, adding that unless he does that, the change that would happen would only be useful for his own interest.

He noted that a leader must not think of what he would receive from his country, but what he can do for his country.

Besides being transformational, anyone who wishes to lead the country must also have integrity. "If he or she has no integrity he or she must never think of being a leader of this country," he said.

The minister also said that one of the characteristics of a leader with integrity is consistency.

If one's words are not consistent with his or her acts. It means he has no integrity and must not be elected, he said.

During his speech, the minister motivated students to start learning to be leaders while they are still young, he said.

He added that a leader does not come naturally from birth, but is made through experiences and hard work.

Meanwhile, the rector of the university, Dr Muhadjir Effendy, said that the minister had been invited to the campus to enrich the students' national outlook, and also because of his role at the university.

"Before he was defense minister, Purnomo played an important role in the campus, especially with regard to the development of a micro-hydro power plant when he was minister of energy," he said.

Regarding Student Day, he said he hoped students would not only be busy studying, but also could also participate in creative activities.

He said students are able to go to class and study from Monday to Friday, allowing them the chance to focus on creative activities on Saturday.

Indonesians plan to elect regional and central legislative members in general elections scheduled on April 9, 2014. Later in October, they will elect the president.

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