Bulog CEO Major General Novi Helmy Promoted to Lieutenant General Position

JAKARTA, KOMPAS - The Decree of the Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces regarding the transfer as of January 31, 2025, promotes Major General Novi Helmy Prasetya to Commander General of the Indonesian National Armed Forces Academy, a position equivalent to Lieutenant General. In this transfer, Major General Novi replaces Lieutenant General Rudianto, who was previously the Commander General of the Indonesian National Armed Forces Academy and then became a high-ranking officer at the Indonesian Army Headquarters in preparation for retirement. This is stated in the official release issued by the Public Relations Center of the Indonesian National Armed Forces on Monday (10/2/2025).

Meanwhile, Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Erick Thohir appointed Major General Novi Helmy Prasetya as President Director of Perum Bulog. Novi replaces Wahyu Suparyono who previously served as president director since September 10, 2024 or served less than five months. (Kompas.id, 8/1/2025).

Referring to the timeline, Major General Novi was transferred from the Territorial Assistant to the Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces to the position of Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces Academy based on Decree No. Kep/133/I/2025 dated January 31, 2025, which was announced on February 10, 2025.

The appointment of Major General Novi as the President Director of Bulog is stipulated in the Decree of the Minister of State-Owned Enterprises with Number: SK-30/MBU/02/2025 dated February 7, 2025. Major General Novi, a 1993 Military Academy graduate, is normally set to retire in 2029.

The formulation of policies appears haphazard. It would be better for Major General Novi to continue his service in the military as the Commander of the Academy due to his status as an active officer.

Researcher and Coordinator of the Defense, Security, and Conflict Cluster at the National Research and Innovation Agency's (BRIN) Political Research Center, Muhammad Haripin, considers the two policies of these government institutions, namely the TNI Headquarters and the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises, to be unsynchronized. "The policy formulation appears to be haphazard. It would be better for Major General Novi to continue his service in the TNI as the Commander of the Academy because of his status as an active officer," said Haripin.

Haripin regretted the appointment of Novi as the Director of Bulog, even though he had previously served as the Commander of the TNI Academy. The reason is that this appointment in the civilian sector gives the impression that the position of Commander of the Academy is less strategic and prestigious.

Although the Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces has approved Novi's position at Bulog, the issuance of two decrees in close succession seems to sideline the interests of professionalism within the ranks of the Indonesian National Armed Forces officers.

His appointment drew criticism because it was considered to violate the TNI Law. Article 47 Paragraph (1) of Law Number 34 of 2004 concerning the TNI states that "Soldiers can only occupy civilian positions after resigning or retiring from active military service". Meanwhile, paragraph (2) states that there is leeway for active TNI to hold civilian positions, but it explicitly mentions 10 institutions related to defense, such as the Ministry of Defense, Basarnas, the State Intelligence Agency, and the President's Military Secretary.

Imparsial said that this appointment also hampers the professionalism of the TNI and has a negative impact on the career ladder of state civil servants. Meanwhile, Anton Aliabbas as Head of the Center for Intermestic and Diplomatic Engagement (CIDE) reminded that the food security program should be determined through a state political decision, namely an agreement between the DPR and the Government.

Thus, there is detailed legal certainty regarding elements, duration, and financing. This legal umbrella is important as a guide and guide for the TNI to work and the DPR to carry out supervision.

In addition, the involvement of the TNI in food security matters should still be placed in the context of assistance tasks. This is considering that food matters are a civilian domain and military competence is not built to implement a comprehensive food security program.

Consequently, this involvement should be temporary. Because, a number of studies state, the involvement of the military for civil affairs in the long term can affect the professionalism and preparedness of the military itself in facing the threat of armed war that can still occur at any time.

Responding to this public criticism, the Head of the TNI Headquarters Information Center, Major General Hariyanto, said that the TNI always respects every decision taken by the government, especially in appointing officials in the BUMN environment.

"Regarding the appointment of Major General TNI Novi Helmy Prasetya as the President Director of Perum Bulog, of course the TNI will ensure that every policy involving active soldiers will follow the provisions of laws and regulations," said Hariyanto.

Hariyanto assured that the administrative process related to the membership status of Major General TNI Novi Helmy Prasetya within the TNI will certainly be carried out in accordance with the provisions through the applicable regulatory mechanisms. Meanwhile, Haripin said that of course the public will note how this situation develops.

Meanwhile, the Chief of General Staff of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Richard Tampubolon, witnessed the signing of the Cooperation Agreement (PKS) between the Public Company (Perum) of the Logistics Affairs Agency (Bulog) and the Indonesian National Armed Forces. This agreement contains the support of the Indonesian National Armed Forces in the procurement of domestic rice and paddy in 2025.

Regarding the latest mutation, Hariyanto said, there are 65 high-ranking officers (Pati), consisting of 30 Pati TNI AD, 24 Pati TNI AL, and 11 Pati TNI AU, who were transferred. Among them are Major General TNI Mohamad Naudi Nurdika from Commander of Kodam II/Sriwijaya to Territorial Assistant to the TNI Commander, Major General TNI Ujang Darwis, from Director General of Defense Strategy of the Ministry of Defense to Commander of Military Region II/Swj.

In the ranks of the Indonesian Navy, Rear Admiral Ariantyo Condrowibowo, M.Tr.Opsla from Commander of Fleet Command (Pangkoarmada) II became Commander of the Naval Staff and Command School (Danseskoal) and Rear Admiral I Gung Putu Alidjaya from Deputy Commander of the Indonesian Navy Doctrine, Education, and Training Command (Kodiklatal) became Pangkoarmada II. Next, Rear Admiral Fauzi from Danseskoal became Wadan Kodiklatal.

Meanwhile, in the Indonesian Air Force, Air Marshal Bambang Gunarto from Deputy for Facilities and Infrastructure, and Search and Rescue Communication System of BNPP (Basarnas) became Special Staff of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force (Kasau), Air Marshal Widyargo Ikoputra, from Special Staff of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force became Deputy for Facilities and Infrastructure, and Search and Rescue Communication System of BNPP (Basarnas). Air Marshal R. Tjahjo Khurniawan from Director of the National Cyber and Crypto Polytechnic of BSSN (National Cyber and Crypto Agency) became Deputy for Strategy and Policy of Cyber Security and Crypto BSSN.