Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Minister of State Secretariat Prasetyo Hadi declined to comment on the position of Bulog's Director, which a senior military officer has once again filled. "Later," he shortly said at the Presidential Palace Complex in Central Jakarta on Friday, July 11, 2025.
Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) Erick Thohir appointed Major General Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani as the new President Director of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog). The latter replaces Lieutenant General Novi Helmy Prasetya, who has returned to active duty within the Indonesian Military (TNI).
Erick said that this change was in response to military duty requirements. "There's a new President Director, Pak Ahmad Rizal. Previously, Pak Novy was asked to return to duty by the Commander," he explained at the Parliament Complex in Jakarta on Tuesday, July 8, 2025.
Director of human rights group Imparsial, Ardi Manto Adiputra, expressed concerns that the involvement of the TNI in civilian affairs negatively impacts the career progression of civil servants. He added that such involvement also strengthens militarism within civilian institutions. "It damages the professionalism of the TNI itself," Ardi said in a written statement on Thursday, July 10, 2025.
In response, the Head of the Information Center (Kapuspen) of the TNI, Major General Kristomei, affirmed that Ahmad Rizal's assignment process followed proper procedures. He emphasized that Ahmad Rizal's appointment showed the state's trust in the professionalism of active soldiers to support national strategic tasks.
"The placement of TNI soldiers in civilian positions can only be done at the request of the requiring institution, as regulated by laws and regulations," Kristomei clarified on Wednesday, July 9, 2025.
– Daniel Ahmad Fajri contributed to the report