Rizki Dewi Ayu, Jakarta – Indonesian Law Minister Supratman Andi Agtas stated that active Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) soldiers could take office in approved 14 ministries/agencies according to the TNI Bill revision. He said that 16 ministries/agencies were initially proposed in the drafting of the bill to amend Law No. 34 of 2004 on the TNI.
However, there has been a consolidation or reduction in some agencies. "There were 14, originally 16. Because the Defense Council and the National Defense Council were combined, and the Secretary of the President's Military Secretariat can also be doubled," Supratman said in the Parliament Complex, Jakarta, quoted from Antara, on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.
He emphasized that the 14 ministries/agencies are still related to defense functions. Discussions at the commission level have now been completed and will be taken to a plenary session of the House of Representatives.
Supratman also said three major changes in this bill were approved in the TNI Law. He affirmed that TNI soldiers who want to occupy civil positions outside the 14 designated ministries/agencies must resign or retire.
In addition, active TNI soldiers currently serving in civilian positions outside of the provisions will soon be retiring. He also stated that the issue of the dual function of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (ABRI) is not true. "The concerns about the dual function of ABRI are answered in that it is not true at all," he said.
Ready to bring the TNI bill to a plenary session
Deputy Chairman of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives Dave Laksono said that the approved TNI Bill at the commission level will be brought to the next agenda of the Indonesian House of Representatives Plenary Session this week.
"It could be this week. Since there are still a few days left in this week, it could be decided in the plenary session this week," Dave said in the Parliament Complex, Jakarta, on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.
The plenary session can only be held on Tuesday or Thursday. However, Dave has not confirmed whether the bill will be discussed in the plenary session on Thursday, March 20, 2025, because the House of Representatives has not yet entered the recess period next week.
"The recess has been postponed so we will continue the meeting until next week, then to the secretary general for sure," he said.
As it is known, Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives has approved this bill to be taken to the next stage in a plenary session after all party factions have given their final opinions. All factions agreed to discuss the bill further.
This decision was made in a meeting at the Parliament Complex, Jakarta, on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, attended by Minister of Law Supratman Andi Agtas, Deputy Minister of Defense Donny Ermawan, and Deputy Minister of Finance Thomas Djiwandono.
Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/1988190/tni-law-revision-active-soldiers-limited-to-14-civil-position