The Indonesian parliament had approved the appointment of General Moeldoko as the new military chief, replacing Admiral Agus Suhartono, while Lt. General Budiman replaced Moeldoko, who was previously the army`s chief of staff.
The swearing-in ceremony was attended by House Speaker Marzuki Ali, Chairman of the State Audit Agency (BPK) Hadi Purnomo, Chairman of the Judicial Commission (KY) Suparman Marzuki, Chairman of the Regional Representative Council (DPD) Irman Gusman, and Deputy Chairman of the People`s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Melani Leimena Suharli.
Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto, Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi, Defence Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro, Industry Minister MS Hidayat, Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Cicip Sarif Soetardjo, and Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar were also present at the event.
General Moeldoko has had the shortest term in office as the army's chief of staff. He was installed as the army's chief of staff on May 20, 2013, replacing General Edhie Wibowo.
Moeldoko was born in Kediri, East Java, on July 8, 1957, and is considered the best graduate of the Military Academy`s 1981 batch.
In 2011, Moeldoko was appointed as the deputy governor of the Indonesian Resilience Institute (Lemhannas), and in 2012, he was appointed as the deputy chief of staff of the Army, replacing Lt. General Budiman.
Lt General Budiman was the best graduate of the Military Academy`s 1978 batch. He was born in Jakarta, on September 25, 1956, and has been in the military since December 1978.
Earlier, he was the secretary general of the defence ministry. (*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
