INDONESIAN DEFENCE CHIEF RECEIVES TOP MILITARY AWARD

The Commander-in-Chief of the Indonesian National Defence Forces (TNI), General (GEN) Djoko Santoso was conferred the Distinguished Service Order (Military) by President S R Nathan in an investiture held at the Istana on 22 Sep.

Also known as the Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (Tentera), it is Singapore's highest military award. GEN Santoso received the medal in recognition of his significant contributions in strengthening the longstanding defence ties between Singapore and Indonesia.

Under GEN Santoso's leadership, interactions between the two armed forces have increased in scope and depth. Both forces engage regularly in bilateral exercises such as Exercise Elang Indopura and Exercise Safkar Indopura, as well as other professional exchanges that have enhanced mutual understanding and camaraderie between servicemen from the two armed forces.

Also present at the investiture were Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean, Minister for Education and Second Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen, Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General (LG) Desmond Kuek, Permanent Secretary (Defence Development) Tan Kim Siew and other senior government and military officials from both countries.

During his visit to Singapore from 22 to 23 Sep, GEN Santoso called on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Istana, and on Mr Teo at the Ministry of Defence.