Jakarta, CNN Indonesia –
Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD reveals the polemic felt by the government regarding the awarding of Bintang Mahaputera to the Former Commander of the Indonesian Armed Forces General (Purn) Gatot Nurmantyo.
Through a tweet on social media, Mahfud said that whether Gatot was given or not this honorary star would still be questioned.
“The government knows that giving or not giving Bintang Mahaputera to Pak Gatot Nurmantyo (GN) must have an issue,” Mahfud was quoted as saying by CNNIndonesia.com via his Twitter account, Tuesday (3/11).
According to Mahfud, one of the polemics that will emerge is the prejudice that the Mahaputera Star award is a step to silence Gatot, who is currently at odds with the government.
However, Mahfud added, if this award was not given it would still be a problem because the government would be judged to be unfair or discriminatory.
“If it is given it is said to be silent, if it is not said to be discriminatory against the critical. But Bintang Mahaputra is Pak GN’s right as well as Mrs. Susi Pujiastuti’s, etc.,” he said.
The information regarding the gift of Bintang Mahaputera to Gatot himself was first revealed by Mahfud through his tweet.
Mahfud said that the awarding of the honorary star would be carried out by President Joko Widodo to coincide with the commemoration of Heroes’ Day on November 10 and 11.
Gatot himself, when confirmed, admitted that he did not know and had not received any information regarding the awarding of the honorary star. He said that he was currently out of town so he had not received any information.
“We are outside the city (for pilgrimage) so we don’t know yet,” said Gatot via text message.
(tst/end)
– .
