The Commander-in-Chief of the Indonesian National Defence Forces (TNI), General (GEN) Djoko Santoso, was conferred Singapore's highest military award, the Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (Tentera) or Distinguished Service Order (Military)], by President S R Nathan at an investiture held at the Istana this afternoon.

The medal was awarded to GEN Santoso in recognition of his significant contributions in strengthening the longstanding defence ties between Singapore and Indonesia, which span over 40 years. Under GEN Santoso's leadership, professional interactions between the Singapore Armed Forces and the TNI have grown in scope and depth. Both forces engage regularly in a range of activities, which include professional exchanges and bilateral exercises such as Exercise Elang Indopura and Exercise Safkar Indopura. These extensive interactions have enhanced mutual understanding and camaraderie between servicemen from the two armed forces.

Guests at the investiture included Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean, Minister for Education and Second Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen, Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General (LG) Desmond Kuek, Permanent Secretary (Defence Development) Tan Kim Siew, as well as other senior government officials and military officers from Singapore and Indonesia.

As part of his three-day visit to Singapore from 22 to 24 September 2009, GEN Santoso called on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Istana. He also called on Mr Teo at the Ministry of Defence before the investiture.