Ambon, Maluku (ANTARA News) - Army Chief of Staff General Mulyono will propose an increase in the allowances for soldiers stationed in the provinces of Maluku and North Maluku, due to the high cost of living.

"I will propose it to our leadership in order to pay attention to soldiers stationed in the countrys outlaying islands and borders," he said, while issuing directives to soldiers of the 733/Raider Battalion here on Wednesday.

Mulyono said he has proposed that the allowances for soldiers in Maluku and North Maluku should be equal to those of their counterparts stationed in operations areas because the two provinces comprise many islands where costs of living are high.

"The allowances of Babinsa (village supervisory non-commissioned officers) will be raised because, as forefront apparatuses, they have to work hard to carry out the governments programs assigned to them. I have made an effort to propose a rise in their allowances to the government. That is the goal for our attention to TNI (Indonesian military) soldiers welfare," he said.

He said the Army has developed programs to improve 53 bases with the so-called block system, as part of efforts to improve TNI soldiers welfare.

"I see that the soldiers have worked hard and seriously. But what they earn is not in proportion to their hard work, so it becomes my responsibility as the Army chief," he said. (*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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