Dudung: SPPI programme participants underwent health checks

Chief of the Presidential Staff, Dudung Abdurachman, stated that participants in the Sarjana Penggerak Pembangunan Indonesia (SPPI) programme who are undergoing basic military training had medical examinations before the training commenced. “Before the training was carried out, health tests were conducted. I believe everyone underwent health tests,” Dudung said in his statement in Jakarta on Friday. Dudung said the implementation of the training is currently being evaluated and investigated. Based on the information he has received, no element of negligence has yet been found regarding the incidents. According to him, the military training for SPPI participants is not classified as overly strenuous. However, there is a possibility that health factors or other factors affected the participants’ condition during the training. “As far as I know, military training for levels like SPPI and so on is not too tough. But maybe because he was ill and so forth. But this is being evaluated and there is an investigation,” he said. Regarding the continuation of the training programme, Dudung assessed that such activities remain important for building discipline, loyalty, cooperation, and esprit de corps among participants. “We too, before joining the Red and White Cabinet environment, were first retreated in Magelang, because I think that is important to improve discipline, increase loyalty, cooperation, esprit de corps, and so on. Hopefully, it will still be implemented,” he concluded. Previously, the Ministry of Defence on Tuesday confirmed that two participants of the SPPI Programme for KDMP and KNMP died while undergoing basic military training, namely Anisa Muyassaroh and Yonanda Muhammad Taufiq. Meanwhile, Yonanda, who was undergoing education at Satdik Puslatpur Kodiklatad Baturaja, died after experiencing a decline in physical condition on Monday and had undergone treatment at a hospital. Based on the results of a medical examination, he died due to cardiac arrest. The Ministry of Defence then announced that another participant, Novia Rahmadhani Sihotang, died on Wednesday. Novia was a participant in the SPPI KNMP 2026 Programme undergoing education at Satdik Pusbahasa Kodiklatau, Jakarta. An official explained that Novia experienced health problems while attending basic military training on Monday. She was then rushed to the Air Force Hospital Dr. Esnawan Antariksa for medical treatment. Her condition continued to decline until she died on Tuesday.