SBY: Active TNI Must Resign If Entering Politics or Government

BOGOR, KOMPAS - The 6th President of Indonesia, who is also the Chairman of the Democratic Party's High Council, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, reminded that active TNI soldiers must resign when entering the realm of politics or government. This is considered important to reaffirm as it is one of the main doctrines implemented during the ABRI reform era.

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on the sidelines of his briefing to all Democratic Party cadres at his residence in Cikeas, Bogor, West Java, on Sunday (23/2/2025), initially told of his experience when he served as Chairman of the ABRI Reform. At that time, during the ABRI reform, it was taboo for active soldiers to enter the world of practical politics.

"That was one of the doctrines that we issued in the past, during the ABRI reform, where I was the reform team, the head of the reform team, we implemented it. True, I was moved, inspired, if you are still an active general, for example, don't be involved in politics. If you want to be involved in politics, retire," Yudhoyono stressed.

Therefore, General Chairman AHY and several former military officers whose careers were once brilliant, bright, but when moving from the military to the world of government or politics, the requirement is to resign. That is one of the things we initiated before.

Yudhoyono then recalled the moment when his eldest son who is also the General Chairman of the Democratic Party, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, who is familiarly called AHY, had to resign from his military position to pursue a career in politics. The same thing was also done by former active military officers when they had to change course to enter the government.

"Therefore, General Chairman AHY and several former military officers whose careers were once brilliant, bright, but when moving from the military world to the world of government or politics, the requirement is to resign. That is one of the things we initiated before," said Yudhoyono.

However, currently, many active TNI soldiers hold concurrent civilian positions. One of them is Major Teddy Indra Wijaya who is now the Cabinet Secretary. Although he regulates ministers and all matters in the Palace, structurally the Cabinet Secretary is now equivalent to an echelon IIA official. This is stipulated in Presidential Regulation Number 148 of 2024 concerning the Ministry of State Secretariat. In this regulation, the Cabinet Secretary is under the President's Military Secretary.

In addition, there are still a number of active soldiers filling positions around President Prabowo. Major General Ariyo Windutomo currently serves as the Head of the Presidential Secretariat. Ariyo previously served as Head of the Personnel Section of the Ministry of Defense and Head of the General Bureau of the Secretariat General of the Ministry of Defense. Now, he holds a structural position held by a high-ranking echelon IA official.

Another active soldier is Major General Novi Helmy Prasetya who was recently appointed as Bulog's President Director. Novi Helmy's name has been listed on the bulog.go.id website although there is no photo or profile information yet. On Friday (21/2/2025), Novi Helmy was appointed as Commander General (Danjen) of the TNI Academy.

In ministries/institutions, there are also several active TNI who hold structural positions. Major General Maryono, for example, serves as Inspector General of the Ministry of Transportation. Major General Irham Waroihan becomes Inspector General of the Ministry of Agriculture. In addition, there is still First Admiral Ian Heriyawan who serves at the Hajj Organizing Agency.

Meanwhile, Article 47 Paragraphs 1-3 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. In addition, active soldiers can occupy positions in offices that oversee the coordination of the fields of Politics and State Security, State Defense, Presidential Military Secretary, State Intelligence, State Code, National Resilience Institute, National Defense Council, National Search and Rescue (SAR), National Narcotics, and the Supreme Court.

To serve in the ministries/institutions mentioned is also based on the request of the head of the department and non-departmental government institution and is subject to the administrative provisions applicable within the environment of the department and non-departmental government institution in question.

Regarding several active soldiers around Prabowo, Sunday (23/2/2025), the Head of the Presidential Communications Office, Hasan Nasbi, did not answer Kompas' questions.

Kompas has also contacted the Head of the TNI Information Center, Major General Hariyanto, to confirm and ask for an explanation regarding the dual positions of active soldiers, including Novi Helmy. However, as of 20:30 WIB, he had not responded to messages or phone calls from Kompas.

On the other hand, TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto through the TNI Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General (Letjen) Richard Tampubolon, when leading the handover ceremony for the position of Danjen Akademi TNI, Friday (21/2/2025), hoped that the high-ranking officers could strengthen their leadership in developing their respective work units.

Imparsial Deputy Director Hussein Ahmad stated that the placement of TNI and Polri positions in civilian positions that are not in accordance with their respective fields will make these two institutions even weaker. In fact, the current military and world security conditions are moving towards an increasingly complex direction and require seriousness from TNI and Polri.

"The withdrawal of the military and the police to tasks that are not their field actually weakens professionalism. So, it must be in accordance with its mandate, don't let it collide here and there so that it becomes chaotic like now," said Hussein.

The mandate is stated in MPR Decree No. VI/MPR/2000 which regulates the separation of the TNI and the National Police of the Republic of Indonesia. After that, it is also regulated by MPR Decree No. VII/MPR/2000 regarding the role of the TNI and Polri as state defense and security apparatus.

Hussein also reminded that the civil sphere that can be held by these two institutions must be in accordance with their needs and performance. The military, for example, is needed in a number of positions related to national defense, such as the Ministry of Defense, the State Intelligence Agency, and the Search and Rescue Agency.

"They are needed because they have qualifications in their respective fields. The TNI is educated, armed, solely to fight, not to become Bulog's CEO, Seskab (Cabinet Secretary), or cook for free nutritious meals," said Hussein.

The police, Hussein continued, can also enter a number of civil institutions because they are still related to the security and criminality sectors. These institutions include the National Narcotics Agency, the National Counterterrorism Agency, and a number of positions in the Corruption Eradication Commission.

"The police must also focus on law enforcement amidst increasingly complex criminal threats, such as cyber and so on. Not on other matters," said Hussein.