"It has been twisted. Nothing needs to be questioned of the president`s statement. It was meant to highlight that the government is serious in improving the welfare of officers, including TNI, police and civil servants," Julian Aldrin Pasha said at Halim Perdanakusuma air force base, eastern Jakarta, Monday, before leaving for India to accompany the president.
He said the head of state also emphasized the importance of TNI, Police personnel and civil servants to work hard because the government has been trying to improve their welfare.
Thus, Julian reiterated that the president`s statement was not a complain, but in fact it was an encouragement for the state apparatus personnel to work harder as the government has a priority scale to increase salaries of TNI, Police personnel and civil servants.
President Yudhoyono had earlier promised the leaders of the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Police that he would see to their welfare by raising their salaries, while saying he himself had not had a raise in seven years.
The government, the President said, was committed to raising the salary of TNI and National Police officers every year.
The commitment is aimed at motivating the TNI and police to perform their duties better.
The government, he said, wanted to improve the welfare of soldiers and police, he said.
"This is the sixth or seventh year that my salary has not been raised," Yudhoyono said last January 21 to TNI and police leaders, who laughed in response.
(SYS/F001/S026)
Editor: Suryanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
