Jakarta – The Army Chief of Staff (KSAD) General TNI Dudung Abdurachman will retire in November 2023. A number of three-star officer names are predicted to be listed as potential replacements for General Dudung.
At that time, there will be at least around 11 to 13 people with three stars who have the opportunity to enter the market.
According to a military observer from the Institute for Security and Strategic Studies (ISESS), Khairul Fahmi, currently there is Deputy KSAD Lt. Gen. Agus Subiyanto from the 1991 Military Academy, Commander of the Kostrad Lt. Gen. Maruli Simanjuntak from the 1992 Military Academy, Head of BAIS TNI Lt. BNPB Lt. Gen. Suharyanto from the 1989 Military Academy who has great potential to replace General TNI Dudung Abdurachman.
The reason is that those who are experienced in their duties and positions are considered quite close to President Joko Widodo.
Then there was also Sesmenko Polhukam, Lt. Gen. Teguh Pujo Rumekso who won the Adhi Makayasa Akmil 1991 and the Balinese general who is full of experience in the battlefield, Koorsahli KSAD Lt. Gen. TNI I Nyoman Cantiasa who also won the Adhi Makayasa Akmil 1990.
Cantiasa, who is also the best graduate with the Tri Sakti Wiratama award at his alma mater, has served as Danjen Kopassus and Pangkogabwilhan III. By many circles, he is considered a very, very worthy candidate to become Army Chief of Staff if the measure is professionalism.
If he becomes KSAD, the general who was born in Seririt, Buleleng, Bali, will also follow in the footsteps of his senior who was the chief of staff, namely the former KSAU, Marshal TNI Ida Bagus Putu Dunia.
Another consideration is that Cantiasa, who was born on June 26, 1967, will also have another 1.5 years of service time when General Dudung retires. Apart from that, his current position as Korsahli KSAD can also be a very crucial determining point to fulfill his star rank of four.
“Lt. Gen. Cantiasa is like a dark horse in the KSAD candidate market. He has all the qualification requirements for the position. He was also the winner of the best writing achievement for Dikreg XLI Sesko TNI in 2014. The decision is based on political factors and current closeness to the President,” said Khairul Fahmi.
“If the reference is strong from PDIP’s inner circle, then it is very likely that Lt. Gen. Cantiasa’s destiny will assert himself as the Army Chief of Staff to replace Gen. Dudung. We never know what someone’s destiny will be in the future,” he continued.
It is also estimated that, if there are no surprises, Cantiasa and the names he mentioned earlier will become a three-star general with a very big chance to enter the next KSAD exchange.
He also hopes that whoever becomes the new KSAD will be able to reflect the presence of regeneration and leadership relay.
“The most important thing is to understand his position as a supporter, assistant to the TNI Commander, so that his policies must always be aligned with the TNI’s priority agenda,” he said. Bembo
