President Signs TNI Law, Current Chief of Staff Can Still Serve for Another 7-11 Years

JAKARTA, KOMPAS - President Prabowo Subianto has finally signed the Law on the National Armed Forces of Indonesia. This law, numbered 3 of 2025, among other things, regulates the extension of the retirement period for military personnel.

In comparison, Law 34/2004 concerning the National Armed Forces regulates that all non-commissioned officers/enlisted personnel retire at the age of 53, while senior officers retire at the age of 58. Meanwhile, under Law 3/2025 concerning the National Armed Forces, the retirement age is set at 58 for officers with ranks up to lieutenant colonel.

Four-star senior officers can have their service extended up to the age of 63 and can be extended twice in accordance with presidential policy. Each extension is granted for a period of one year. Officers with the rank of colonel can retire at the age of 59, while one to three-star senior officers retire at the ages of 60 to 62.

With this regulation, the Chief of Naval Staff (KSAL) Admiral Muhammad Ali, born on April 9, 1967, will not retire this year. Ali can still serve for another five years, with the possibility of two one-year extensions. Similarly, the Commander of the National Armed Forces, General Agus Subiyanto, born on August 5, 1967, can still serve for a total of seven more years.

The Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army (KSAD), General Maruli Simanjuntak, who is currently 55 years old, can still serve for eight years, with the potential for a two-year extension. Maruli was born on February 24, 1970.

The Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Air Force (KSAU) Marshal Tonny Harjono, born on October 4, 1971, can still serve for another 11 years. This 11-year period consists of nine years until the retirement age of 63, plus the potential for two one-year extensions.

Previously, President Prabowo Subianto, in an interview with several editors-in-chief of media outlets at his private residence in Hambalang, Bogor Regency, on Sunday (6/4/2025), stated that the discussion on the Military Law is being expedited to avoid the rapid replacement of officials such as the Commander of the Military and the Chief of Staff of the Military.

"In those few years, the TNI Commander changed once a year, the KSAD (Army Chief of Staff) changed once a year, because his age was up. His time for his career, as soon as he wanted to use it, his age was up. Where can we have an organization whose leaders change every year? There, I actually said, how many generals do we have to replace now? So, I beg you, if possible the essence of the TNI Bill is actually only to extend the retirement age of several high-ranking officers. There is no intention for the TNI to have a dual function again, come on? That's nonsense," said Prabowo.

The extension of the retirement age, according to FISIP UPN Veteran Jakarta lecturer Jerry Indrawan, indicates the government's and the DPR's intention to revise the TNI Law is not aimed at promoting the professionalism of the TNI.

"Clauses that are in line with the objectives such as strengthening the TNI in facing asymmetric threats are not significant in Law 3/2025. They are just sweeteners as if they are concerned about the issue, but in practice they only cover up the political interests of the retirement age," said Jerry.

The extension of the retirement age, according to Jerry, is suspected to be because the regime wants to maintain its trusted individuals. Ultimately, instead of promoting the professionalism of the military, only political lobbying has emerged. A new dual function of the military has also appeared.

The increasing length of retirement for the military, including its officers, has led to a buildup of officers without positions (nonjob). The number of enlisted personnel and non-commissioned officers will also increase. As a result, the budget will swell to cover the salaries of these military members.

Another impact is related to the increasing need for additional structural positions. "Adding posts means (having to) increase the budget (again)," added Jerry.

This step is even further from President Prabowo's desire to make budget efficiency. "In fact, there should be a moratorium on TNI recruitment like before when civil servants were stopped (recruitment) because of overload," Jerry said.

The new TNI Law was signed by President Prabowo Subianto and is dated March 26, 2024. Previously, in a brief interview at the Ministry of Law complex in Jakarta on Tuesday (15/4/2025), Minister of Law Supratman Andi Agtas appeared unaware of whether this regulation had been signed by the President or not.

According to Supratman, the Military Law will automatically take effect and be enacted even without the President's signature. "Therefore, it is just a matter of time, especially since we do not know his schedule," said Supratman.

The legislation that has been passed by the DPR is indeed on the President's desk and awaiting his signature. However, even if the President does not affix his signature, the regulation will take effect within 30 days.

Supratman also assessed that the signing depends on the President's schedule. "It's not just one. There are many laws that the President wants to sign, there are many," said Supratman (Kompas.id, Tuesday, April 15, 2025).

In the draft of Law 3/2025 received by the Kompas Daily, President Prabowo signed it and at the bottom left is the signature of Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi as the party who enacted the regulation.

Meanwhile, in several laws, there are also drafts promulgated by the Minister of Law. The difference in the minister who promulgates this, according to Radian Syam, a Constitutional Law Lecturer at the Iblam School of Law in Jakarta, is not an issue. The most important thing is that the mechanism for ratification by the DPR has been fulfilled.

The next mechanism is the signing by the President, which if not carried out within 30 days, the regulation automatically takes effect. However, it is the duty of the Minister of State Secretary to include this regulation in the state ledger.

"When it is officially enacted, it is mandatory for citizens to be aware of the (Law) and for the government to record it in the state ledger and to socialize it. Whether it is archived by the Minister of State or the Minister of Law is not an issue," said Radian.

In addition, he added, the Minister of State Secretariat is involved in the harmonization of new laws. In this harmonization, typographical errors in spelling—without altering the meaning—can be corrected. Furthermore, in the newly enacted Law on the Establishment of Legislation, which was approved by the DPR on May 30, 2022, or Law 13/2022, the responsibility for promulgating legislative regulations has been transferred from the Minister of Law and Human Rights to the Minister of State Secretariat.