Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – Survey institute Indikator Politik Indonesia recently released the results of a new survey on public satisfaction and trust in state institutions. The survey, released on February 8, 2026, shows that the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) is the most trusted state institution.

Executive Director of Indikator Politik Indonesia, Burhanuddin Muhtadi, stated that the public's trust in the TNI has reached 93 percent. Fifteen percent fully trust the TNI's performance, while 78 percent somewhat trust it.

However, he mentioned that the public's trust in the national defense institution has declined. Based on the previous survey released by Indikator Politik Indonesia, public trust in the TNI was above 95 percent.

Burhanuddin stated that the decrease in public trust in the TNI was due to the military's expanding role in non-defense matters. "There are indications that the TNI is involved in MBG (free nutritious meal program), the Red and White Cooperative, and so on," he said during a virtual press conference on Sunday, February 8, 2026.

He explained that the expansion of the TNI's role outside of defense affairs actually poses a risk to the institution's image. He believed that military involvement in civilian affairs would increase friction and interaction with the community.

"The more the TNI gets involved in non-defense matters, the greater the possibility of interaction with the community and the greater the likelihood of increased friction," said Burhanuddin.

The data for this survey were collected from January 15 to 21, 2026. This survey used a sample size of 1,220 eligible general election voters, who were at least 17 years old, from all provinces in Indonesia. The sample was selected using a multistage random method, with a margin of error of approximately 2.9 percent at a confidence level of 95 percent. The selected respondents were interviewed face-to-face.

In a similar survey, the House of Representatives (DPR) is the state institution with the lowest public trust compared to other institutions. The legislative institution only obtained a 56 percent public trust.

Meanwhile, the President ranks second in public trust. President Prabowo Subianto's administration received a public trust score of 91 percent, consisting of 15 percent who fully trust it and 76 percent who somewhat trust it.

Furthermore, the Attorney General's Office has a public trust level of 80 percent, the Constitutional Court at 75 percent, the Judiciary at 74 percent, and the Corruption Eradication Commission at 72 percent. The Indonesian National Police and the Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) received a public trust level of 65 percent, while political party institutions were trusted by 61 percent of the public.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/2086012/survey-public-trust-in-tni-decline