Singapore, January 7 (AseanAll)  — Chief of Defence Force of Indonesia General (GEN) Agus Subiyanto was conferred Singapore's highest military award, the Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (Tentera) [Distinguished Service Order (Military)], by Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) of Singapore on the afternoon of on January 7,2026. 

GEN Agus was conferred the award for his significant role in strengthening defence ties between the Indonesian National Defence Forces (TNI) and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). Under GEN Agus’s leadership, the implementation of the Defence Cooperation Agreement, which entered into force in 2024, has continued to be smooth. Both militaries also maintained a high cadence of professional exchanges and regular bilateral exercises such as Exercise Safkar Indopura, Exercise Eagle Indopura, Exercise Elang Indopura, Exercise Chandrapura and Exercise Manyar Indopura. The TNI and the SAF also successfully conducted the bilateral exercise Counter-Terrorism Field Training Exercise, Exercise Griffin Cakti last year. These interactions greatly promoted interoperability and friendship between both armed forces.

The investiture was attended by Singapore Minister for Defence, Mr Chan Chun Sing, Senior Minister of State for Defence, Mr Zaqy Mohamed, Chief of Defence Force Vice Admiral (VADM) Aaron Beng, as well as senior government officials and military officers from Singapore and Indonesia.

GEN Agus, who was in Singapore from 6 to 7 January 2026, also called on Singapore Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Mr Lawrence Wong, at the Istana where they reaffirmed the close and longstanding bilateral defence relationship between Singapore and Indonesia. In addition, GEN Agus called on Mr Chan and VADM Beng at MINDEF, after inspecting the Guard of Honour.