Defence Minister urges public not to worry about alert status one

Jakarta — Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin has urged the public not to fear the alert status one previously issued by the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI).

The alert status one represents the TNI’s efforts to ensure public safety amid global and domestic conflict tensions. “So the public need not worry. What the public actually needs is safety and comfort,” Sjafrie said during a press statement at the Defence Ministry headquarters in central Jakarta on Thursday.

According to Sjafrie, the TNI has always been tasked with strengthening national defence against global and domestic conflict escalations. Such defence escalations must be adjusted to prevailing situations and conditions, he explained.

Sjafrie emphasised that the TNI’s decision to impose alert status one is based on geostrategic considerations. “So the readiness measure we are implementing has no geopolitical impact. It has no impact on geoeconomics,” he clarified.

With the alert status one in place, Sjafrie is confident that the government will be better positioned to protect national defence and public security. “This readiness is to assure citizens that the republic is safe and, of course, comfortable in terms of food, clothing, and shelter,” he said.