Minister Sjafrie and Public Works Minister Inspect Infantry Battalion TP 834/WM

RRI.CO.ID, Nagekeo, NTT – Indonesia’s Defense Minister, Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, inspected the condition of Infantry Battalion TP 834/Wakanga Mere (WM) in Nagekeo Regency, East Nusa Tenggara,Tuesday, August 18, 2026. The Defense Minister was accompanied by Public Works Minister Doddy Hanggodo.

The two ministers directly inspected the damage to the military base caused by the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck the NTT region.

During the visit, the Defense Minister and the Public Works Minister monitored several base facilities affected by the earthquake. They also reviewed the condition of the unit and the support provided by personnel of Territorial Development Infantry Battalion 834/WM to local residents during the emergency response period.

Nagekeo Regent Simplipius Donatus, expressed his appreciation for the presence of the Territorial Development Infantry Brigade and Territorial Development Infantry Battalion TP 834/WM in the area. The presence of the troops has been considered beneficial to the community, particularly in responding to the earthquake emergency through support for field kitchens and temporary evacuation posts.

In addition to disaster response, the Nagekeo Regent expressed hope that the unit would continue to contribute to regional development in the future, including agricultural development to support the food security program in Nagekeo Regency.

In response, Defense Minister Sjafrie, stated that the presence of Territorial Development Infantry Battalions is designed to provide direct benefits to the areas where the units are stationed. Personnel of the Territorial Development Infantry Battalion are expected to become part of the government's efforts to support various regional development programs while also supporting the implementation of national strategic programs in the region.

In disaster situations, the unit's capabilities and resources can also be quickly mobilized to assist local communities and regional governments. In this way, the presence of the Indonesian Military (TNI) among the people can provide tangible benefits.

During the inspection, the Defense Minister was also accompanied by Deputy Commander of the TNI General Tandyo Budi Revita, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army Lieutenant General TNI Muhammad Saleh, and other officials from the Ministry of Defense.