Safety of SPPI basic military training participants must be a priority

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Member of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) Amelia Anggraini has stressed that the safety of participants in the Sarjana Penggerak Pembangun Indonesia (SPPI) programme undergoing basic military training must be the top priority, following the deaths of three participants. She stated that the training holds strategic value in shaping the character, leadership, and discipline of participants. However, its implementation must be supported by strict safety standards without diminishing the programme’s main objectives. “I believe this programme should continue, but with stricter safety standards, more professional supervision, and evidence-based evaluation,” Amelia said in Jakarta on Thursday. Amelia also expressed her condolences over the deaths of three trainees in the SPPI programme for the Koperasi Desa/Kelurahan Merah Putih (KDKMP) and Koperasi Nelayan Merah Putih (KNMP). She noted that the training for prospective development programme managers aims not only to build physical capability but also to instil discipline, leadership, integrity, mental resilience, teamwork skills, and the ability to make decisions under pressure. “These competencies are highly relevant for managers who will lead the implementation of development programmes in the field,” she said. She therefore expressed hope that such incidents would not recur. “A good programme is not measured by the absence of challenges, but by the organiser’s ability to learn from every incident and ensure similar events do not happen again,” she said.