Top Military Award Conferred on Former Commander-in-Chief of the Indonesian Armed Forces

General (GEN) Gatot Nurmantyo (right) paying compliments after receiving the award from President Halimah Yacob (left) at the Istana.

Former Commander-in-Chief of the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) General (GEN) Gatot Nurmantyo was conferred Singapore's highest military award, the Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (Tentera) [Distinguished Service Order (Military)], by President Halimah Yacob at the Istana this afternoon.
 
GEN Gatot was conferred the award for his significant contributions towards strengthening the close and long-standing defence relations between the TNI and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). Under his leadership, cooperation between the two armed forces made good progress, maintaining a high tempo of bilateral exercises, such as Exercise Safkar Indopura, Exercise Eagle Indopura and Exercise Elang Indopura, and also successfully conducting the SAF-TNI Counter-Terrorism Table-Top Exercise in 2017. To commemorate 50 years of bilateral relations between Singapore and Indonesia in 2017, GEN Gatot also oversaw the combined flypast organised by the Indonesian Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Air Force. Closer people-to-people relations was also promoted during his tenure, as a wide range of interactions such as the Combined Annual Report Meeting-Indonesia-Singapore High Level Committee, Senior Officers' Visit Programme and Service-level working group meetings were organised. These frequent exchanges strengthened the rapport and camaraderie at many levels between both armed forces.
 
GEN Gatot called on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Istana this afternoon after the investiture. He also reviewed a Guard of Honour at the Istana prior to the investiture. GEN Gatot, who is in Singapore from 4 to 5 March 2018, also called on Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen and Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General (LG) Perry Lim earlier today at the Ministry of Defence.

Guests at the investiture included Dr Ng, LG Lim, Permanent Secretary for Defence Development Mr Neo Kian Hong, Chief of Army Major-General Melvyn Ong, as well as other senior government officials and military officers from Singapore and Indonesia.

GEN Gatot (left) calling on Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen (right) at the Ministry of Defence.

GEN Gatot inspecting the Guard of Honour contingent at the Istana.