Prabowo spontaneously meets soldiers guarding Indonesia's northernmost tip in Miangas

Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto spontaneously ordered the vehicle carrying him to stop while en route to his working visit location on Miangas Island, North Sulawesi, on Saturday, to meet Indonesian National Army (TNI) soldiers guarding Pos TNI Angkatan Darat (Posad) Miangas.

As part of the President’s working visit to Miangas Island on Saturday, the Presidential Secretariat in its official release confirmed in Jakarta explained that there was no official agenda at Posad Miangas.

Nevertheless, as the presidential vehicle passed by, two soldiers on guard immediately saluted. Upon seeing this, President Prabowo ordered the vehicle to halt. The President stepped out and approached the two soldiers guarding Posad Miangas at the time.

The President then greeted the two soldiers, namely Sergeant Two (Serda) Alan Mandibo from Combat Engineer Battalion (Yonzipur) 19/Yudha Karya Nyata and Leading Soldier Armoko from Military Resort Command (Korem) 131/Santiago. Both have been stationed on Miangas Island for 11 months, safeguarding Indonesia’s northernmost territory bordering directly with the Philippines.

“It felt like speaking directly with Sir (the President), we felt a great sense of pride for ourselves as soldiers. Because this is the first time we’ve met Sir in person, with a greeting, handshake, a little chat, and also showing our barracks or post (to the President),” said Serda Alan Mandibo as quoted from the official Presidential Secretariat release.

At Posad Miangas, President Prabowo also asked about the soldiers’ daily lives during their duties, including their need for clean water.

“What Sir the President asked about was our water source, for our daily needs for cooking, and also for bathing and washing. We answered, we have a well, and the well is clean,” he said.

“Sir (the President) is a firm person, attentive to the members, and in my opinion, Sir is very caring, so earlier (when) he first arrived, he immediately stopped by and headed to our post,” said Serda Alan.

Alan admitted that he never imagined or expected to experience a face-to-face meeting with the President on Miangas Island, his assignment location at Indonesia’s northern tip, which is very far from the capital.

“We never expected it at all, we didn’t expect to meet face-to-face directly with Sir the President,” said Serda Alan.

President Prabowo is the second president to visit Miangas after the 7th President Joko Widodo.