Jakarta. Former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono pledged on Saturday to galvanize support and contributions from retired military officers for the future presidency of Prabowo Subianto.

Prabowo, currently serving as the defense minister, secured the presidency with 58 percent of the vote in the February election.

Addressing alumni of Akabri -- the predecessor of the military academy -- during a gathering at the Defense Ministry in Jakarta, Yudhoyono said Prabowo's election represents "the will of the people" and wished him success in his presidential tenure.

While Akabri alumni are old in their age, “they are young and vibrant in their spirit to safeguard the national sovereignty”, said the former president, affectionately known as SBY.

"We stand ready to contribute and support our new leader in ensuring the utmost success in upholding the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Indonesia," he said. 

He expressed the alumni's desire for Prabowo to elevate Indonesia to the global stage.

The event was attended by former Armed Forces commanders Wiranto and Andika Perkasa, former army chief of staff Ryamizard Ryacudu, and other retired members of the army's top brass, including Agum Gumelar and Hendropriyono.

The term Akabri was adopted in 1965 when the Army Academy in Magelang, Central Java, was amalgamated with officers’ training from the Navy, Air Force, and National Police.

In 1984, Akabri was renamed the Military Academy (Akmil), and in 1999, the police academy was separated from it in line with political reforms mandating the separation of the National Police and the three military branches.

Both Yudhoyono and Prabowo are graduates of Akabri.

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