Profile of Lieutenant General Yunus Yosfiah, the Kopassus General Respected by Prabowo Subianto

JAKARTA – Lieutenant General (Ret.) Yunus Yosfiah recorded as the last Minister of Information in the history of the Republic of Indonesia. Yunus Yosfiah replaced Alwi Dahlan who served for two months at the end of President Soeharto’s rule.

Before being appointed by President BJ Habibie as Minister of Information, Yunus Yosfiah served as Secretary of Operational Development Control at the State Secretariat. Previously, the 1965 National Military Academy (AMN) graduate was the Chairman of the ABRI Faction in the MPR.

As a soldier, Yunus Yosfiah is rich in military operations experience. The Kopassus brevet holder was directly involved in Operation Seroja which aimed to integrate East Timor into the territory of the Republic of Indonesia in 1975. Yunus led special forces that played an important role in military actions in the field.

President-elect Prabowo Subianto still clearly remembers his first meeting with Yunus Yosfiah, who at that time served as the Commander of the Special Team codenamed Nanggala 10 in operations in East Timor. Yunus Yosfiah, who at that time held the rank of Major, led by giving real examples in the field.

The philosophy of ing ngarsa sung tulada, or leading from the front, was truly implemented by Yunus Yosfiah. The load in the backpack he carried was as heavy as his men. For logistical needs for 14 days, each soldier carried 28 cans of T2 rations, with a total weight of around 13 kg, plus bullets, spare clothes, and other equipment so that the total load reached 18-20 kg.

“Mr. Yunus’s actions are worth more than an hour of santiaji or lecture. A leader who bears the same heavy burden as his subordinates, the subordinates will be obedient and loyal. A leader does not need to speak at length. Just by setting an example, it will have a big impact on the subordinates. The impression I felt from his leadership was also that he was always calm, never panicked, never nervous,” said Prabowo Subianto in his book entitled ‘Military Leadership: Notes from the Experience of Lieutenant General TNI (Ret.) Prabowo Subianto’ quoted on Sunday (25/8/2024).

Prabowo’s Memories with Yunus Yosfiah Not only when they were on the battlefield. Prabowo, who was still a Captain, remembered when Yunus Yosfiah, who was a Colonel, invited him to join a marathon in Jakarta during the August 17 celebration.

“Wo, come with me,” said Yunus Yosfiah, which Prabowo agreed to without hesitation.

“So I joined him at that time. I joined this Colonel in running 41 km. In the past, every August 17th there was a marathon championship called Proklamathon, and Kopassus was required to join. All members, Kopassus officers had to join,” Prabowo recalled.