Defence Minister Sjafrie Absent from Presidential Priority Programme Coordination Meeting, Visits Infantry Battalion
BELITUNG TIMUR — Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin visited the Territorial Infantry Battalion (Yonif TP) 845/Ksatria Satam (KS) in Simpang Tiga, Simpang Renggiang, East Belitung, Bangka Belitung Islands, on Tuesday (17 March 2026).
The visit occurred whilst a Coordination Meeting on Oversight of President Prabowo’s Priority Programmes was being held at the Defence Ministry in Jakarta.
According to observations, Sjafrie stepped down from the middle passenger seat of a white Toyota Alphard motor vehicle at approximately 09:38 Western Indonesia Time. He was accompanied by Deputy Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces General Tandyo Budi Revita, Deputy Commander of the Army General Staff Lieutenant General Muhammad Saleh Mustafa, and Defence Ministry Logistics Chief Air Marshal Yusuf Jauhari.
The reception began with military honours, including a salute to the superior officer, followed by a guard of honour with armed soldiers standing in formation as a formal military tradition.
However, rather than following the red carpet reception protocol, Sjafrie redirected his steps towards the guard post, the main security checkpoint at the command entrance, to directly assess the security conditions. There he had a brief discussion with the Battalion Commander and Regional Military Commander II/Sriwijaya Major General Ujang Darwis.
He ordered tree planting around the command headquarters. The order was acknowledged with “siap” by Barlian, a military term indicating readiness to carry out instructions without delay.
The inspection continued to the junior ranks’ barracks, accommodation for junior-level soldiers or newly recruited servicemen. Inside the facility were bunked beds, the tiered sleeping arrangements commonly used in military environments for space efficiency.
Sjafrie knocked on the door and then examined the condition of the facilities within, including chairs deemed unfit for use.