Appointed as Bulog CEO, Army Chief of Staff Says Novi is No Longer in the Military

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Indonesian Army Chief of Staff General Maruli Simanjuntak stated that Novi Helmy Prasetya had resigned from military service when he was appointed as President Director of Perum Bulog. He also denied the placement of TNI soldiers in civilian positions as a form of the TNI's dual function as a form of the New Order.

When met after attending the DPR Commission I working meeting at the Parliament Complex, Jakarta, Thursday (2/13/2025), Maruli stated that Novi's appointment as Bulog's President Director was in accordance with the rules. In fact, he emphasized that Novi had left his military service since his appointment as Bulog's President Director.

"Well, (Novi) has been left by the military. That's it, since the appointment (of Bulog's CEO). If the appointment has been made, then she will no longer serve (in the TNI). That's it," said Maruli.

Maruli stated that his party considered Novi worthy of occupying a strategic position because of her competence. Moreover, she has the ability in the food sector so she is worthy of occupying the position of Bulog President Director.

"If we see the competency is already in the final assessment and so on. Yes, if you have the potential, go ahead, there is no problem," he explained.

Before being appointed as Bulog's President Director, Novi served as Territorial Assistant to the TNI Commander with the rank of Major General. After that, he was appointed as Commander General of the TNI Academy based on Kep/133/I/2025 dated January 31, 2025 and announced on February 10, 2025.

A week after the appointment, Novi was appointed as Bulog's President Director as stated in the Decree of the Minister of SOEs with Number SK-30/MBU/02/2025 dated February 7, 2025. Novi replaced Wahyu Suparyono who previously served as Bulog's President Director since September 10, 2024.

According to Maruli, his party is no longer familiar with the TNI's dual function doctrine as was the case in the New Order era.

"We have forgotten the dual function idea. In the past, dual function reached regional leaders. Now, it's democracy. But for officials, the criteria of the person are looked at. So, there has been a trial. He was declared capable and passed," Maruli defended.

The criteria for officers selected to become civil servants, he emphasized, were in accordance with personal criteria and abilities, and that was in Novi's performance as Territorial Assistant who had been managing the food sector for many years.

Novi, he continued, had taken care of agriculture, rice storage, and assured that the farmers' produce could be accepted by Bulog. Therefore, Novi was considered worthy of occupying the civil position.

Although Novi's appointment is claimed not to indicate the dual function of the TNI, Novi's placement is not in accordance with the ministry/institutional post that can be filled by active TNI soldiers as agreed in Law Number 34 of 2004 concerning the TNI. Moreover, the public uproar arose because Novi was said to still be serving as an active officer, even occupying a new position as Danjen Akmil TNI.

Member of Commission I of the House of Representatives Major General (Ret.) TB Hasanuddin stated that the TNI Law states that active soldiers only fill civilian positions related to defense and security. This sector, continued Hasanuddin, is divided into positions in the office that oversees the coordination of the State Politics and Security sector.

In addition, the fields that can be occupied by active officers are in the fields of National Defense, Presidential Military Secretary, State Intelligence to State Code. In addition, there are also the National Resilience Institute, National Defense Council, National Search and Rescue (SAR), National Narcotics, and the Supreme Court.

"If the state really needs it and the position must be filled by an active TNI high ranking officer, immediately revise Law no. 34 of 2004, especially Article 47, so that there are no violations of the law," he said.