Jakarta. After being inaugurated by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, Hadi Tjahjanto, the recently appointed Chief Security Minister, highlighted his key objectives. The former commander-in-chief of the Indonesian military emphasized his primary focus on ensuring the seamless execution of the 2024 General Elections and addressing the Bank Indonesia Liquidity Assistance (BLBI) cases.

"Firstly, is to maintain a conducive situation, starting from the announcement of the election results up to the inauguration announcement of the elected president and vice president," he said after the handover ceremony in the State Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday.

The General Election Commission (KPU) has a deadline until March 20 to announce the results, with the inauguration scheduled for Oct. 20.

According to Hadi, the safety of the election is essential as it ensures that the public can engage in economic activities calmly. "People, spanning from the outskirts to the capital, desire a situation that promotes stability," he added.

In addition to ensuring the smooth conduct of the elections, he also pledged to resolve the BLBI cases, particularly in tracking down state assets allegedly misappropriated by certain debtors.

"The second priority is related to the resolution of BLBI, and we will continue to monitor developments," he said.

The BLBI case refers to a financial scandal that took place in Indonesia during the late 1990s. BLBI was a government program introduced in response to the Asian financial crisis of 1997-1998, aimed at providing financial assistance to banks facing liquidity problems. However, the implementation of the program was marred by corruption, mismanagement, and the misuse of funds.

Hadi assumed the position following the resignation of Mohammad Mahfud MD earlier this month, who stepped down to run as a vice-presidential candidate. In response to inquiries about a possible meeting with Mahfud MD, Hadi expressed his intention to seek guidance from the former Chief Security Minister on unresolved matters during his tenure.

"As a form of establishing connections with the previous leader, I will seek guidance. Regardless of any outstanding issues, we are committed to addressing them within our limited 8-month timeframe," he emphasized.

Jokowi appointed Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY), the Chairman of the Democratic Party, to succeed Hadi Tjahjanto as the Minister of Agrarian and Spatial Planning/Head of the National Land Agency.