MPR Speaker Warns Citizens Against Mercenary Work Following Natuna Incident
The Speaker of the MPR RI, Ahmad Muzani, has urged the public not to be enticed by offers to become mercenaries abroad, following reports that a resident of Natuna Regency, Riau Islands, is allegedly involved in an armed conflict in another country.
Speaking in Natuna on Wednesday, Muzani stated that the community must maintain loyalty to the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI), which includes resisting the allure of mercenary employment.
“The lure or offers of work, especially those connoting mercenary activity, I believe are unjustifiable,” he said.
According to him, maintaining loyalty to the state is not only the responsibility of the people but also requires support from various parties, including the government.
One such effort, Muzani noted, is to ensure the availability of decent employment opportunities so that the community has the chance to improve their welfare without being tempted by risky jobs overseas.
“On the other hand, we must also provide jobs and a better standard of living so that such incidents do not recur,” he added.
Muzani stated that the MPR will continue to encourage relevant ministries and agencies to create various programmes capable of increasing public welfare, particularly in border areas such as Natuna Regency.
He argued that the development of Natuna should not only be viewed through the lens of security and defence but also through the fulfilment of the community’s basic needs.
During a meeting with local government officials at the Natuna Regent’s Office on Wednesday, Muzani received several aspirations regarding issues still faced by the border region, including healthcare services and the availability of subsidised energy.
The MPR, he said, will escalate these issues to the central government for follow-up.
“A quite significant issue is that although Natuna produces a substantial amount of gas on a national scale, the quota for subsidised gas has not yet been received in Natuna Regency,” he said.
Previously, information emerged regarding a Natuna resident who is allegedly in Russia and involved in an armed conflict. The Natuna Regency government is still coordinating with relevant parties to verify the information regarding the individual’s activities.