TNI Law Revision Unstoppable, All Factions Agree to Pass on Thursday

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — All political party factions in the DPR have agreed on the Draft Law regarding Amendments to Law Number 34 of 2004 concerning the TNI. The discussion of the revision will proceed to the second level of deliberation, namely ratification in a plenary session scheduled to be held on Thursday, March 20, 2025.

This was revealed during the Working Meeting of Commission I of the DPR with the agenda of the first-level discussion of the TNI Bill at the Parliamentary Complex, Jakarta, Tuesday (18/3/2025). Eight parliamentary parties, namely the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Gerindra Party, Golkar Party, National Awakening Party (PKB), Nasdem Party, National Mandate Party (PAN), and the Democratic Party, approved the enactment of the TNI Bill.

A member of Commission I of the House of Representatives from the PDI-P faction, TB Hasanuddin, stated that regulations regarding the military (TNI) often undergo dynamics in line with the country's political developments. After fully participating in the discussion of the revisions, PDI-P approved the contents of the TNI Bill.

"PDI-P stated that it approved the draft law on changes to the TNI Law to be discussed at the next level," he said.

PDI-P, Hasanuddin continued, hopes that the TNI Bill can foster solid cooperation between the TNI and other national components. In this way, public trust will increase and indirectly strengthen the position of the TNI in carrying out its duties.

The two-star retired TNI officer stated that the TNI Bill provides legal certainty to soldiers assigned to civilian domains. They will have a foundation to carry out duties outside the defense sector.

PDI-P stated that it agreed to the draft law on changes to the TNI Law to be discussed at the next level.

Regarding the increase in the retirement age limit, according to him, this can help all the families of TNI soldiers and optimize the human resource potential possessed by TNI.

In line with PDI-P, a member of Commission I of the House of Representatives from the Golkar Party faction, Gavriel P Novanto, stated that the timing for revising the law is appropriate to adjust the retirement age in order to optimize human resources within the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI). Furthermore, this would alleviate the burden on soldiers' families regarding housing, healthcare, and their children's education.

In addition, Golkar acknowledged the need for soldiers in several ministries and institutions. The TNI Bill now accommodates these interests to improve the professionalism of soldiers and uphold civilian supremacy.

"The Golkar Party underlines several important points, namely, the role of soldiers in ministries and institutions is only in a number of special fields. Soldiers can hold other civilian positions after resigning or retiring from the military," he explained.

Deputy Minister of State Secretary Bambang Eko Suhariyanto, appreciated the DPR's move to immediately pass the TNI Bill. He said the second level discussion would be held in a plenary meeting on Thursday (20/3/2025).

For information, there are three crucial points that have been agreed to be changed from the TNI Law. The three crucial materials are stated in Article 3 which regulates the position of the TNI, Article 47 related to the placement of the TNI in ministries and institutions, and Article 53 concerning the retirement age limit.

In Article 47 of the TNI Bill, there are five additional agencies that can be occupied by soldiers, including the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT), the Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla), the Attorney General's Office, and the National Border Management Agency (BNPP).

Meanwhile, in Article 47 of the TNI Law, 10 ministries and institutions were previously regulated where active soldiers could be placed. These ministries and institutions include the Coordinator for Political and Security Affairs, National Defense, the Presidential Military Secretariat, State Intelligence, and the State Code. In addition, the National Resilience Institute, the National Defense Council, the National SAR, the National Narcotics, and the Supreme Court.

In addition, there are two new matters that can be handled by the TNI through military operations other than war (OMSP). These are assisting the government in efforts to overcome cyber threats and assisting the government in protecting and saving Indonesian citizens and national interests abroad. With the addition of these two matters, the total scope of the TNI OMSP becomes 16 matters.