Saiful Munir, Jakarta – Newly appointed Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) retired General Luhut Binsar Panjaitan has called on ministers and heads of government institutions under the coordination of the Political, Legal and Security Affairs Ministry (Kemenko Polhukam) to cooperate to create national stability.
Borrowing from the motto of former President Suharto’s New Order (Orba) dictatorship, Panjaitan said Indonesia’s economic situation will slowly improve if it was backed by a favourable climate of security.
“The economy can’t be disconnected from security”, said Panjaitan at the Kemenko Polhukam building on Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat in Central Jakarta on Thursday August 13.
“I think that this, which was conveyed by Pak [Su]Harto’s New Order, is absolutely correct, one of the pillars of the state is the economy and security”, he added.
Kicking off his new appointment, Panjaitan immediately called on the commander of TNI (Indonesian military), the national police chief, the Attorney General and other ministers under his department’s coordination to develop good teamwork.
“Yesterday I spoke with the president for some time. Our thinking is indeed the same, he also wants [to improve] coordination. We’re building teamwork”, he explained.
“We should be of one voice, so I hope that we can all, given the poor global and domestic economic situation, create a sense of clarity. Because the market needs clarity”, he said in conclusion.
[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the report was Luhut Panjaitan Naksir Cara Orba Jaga Stabilitas Negara.]
