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TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The House of Representatives' Commission I convened a working meeting with Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and Minister of Law and Human Rights Supratman Andi Agtas to discuss the revision of Law No. 34 of 2004 concerning the Indonesian Military (TNI Law). This meeting took place in the parliamentary complex, Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025.
Previously, the Indonesian House of Representatives' plenary meeting approved the inclusion of the TNI bill in the 2025 Priority National Legislation Program (Prolegnas). This proposal stemmed from the President's Letter No. R12/Pres/02/2025, dated February 13, 2025. Thus, the bill became a government-initiated proposal.
Early Retirement Rule for TNI Personnel in Civil Positions
During the meeting, Sjafrie revealed that President Prabowo Subianto had issued directives to the Defense Ministry. He stated that Prabowo requested that TNI personnel assigned to ministries or institutions must retire early.
"The President of the Republic of Indonesia, as the highest commander, has also given instructions to the Minister of Defense for the TNI personnel," he said.
He emphasized that TNI personnel retiring early must possess measurable quality and capability to effectively serve in their assigned ministries or institutions. The TNI bill also proposes that active TNI personnel be eligible to occupy positions in 15 designated ministries or institutions. "If they want to be assigned in other positions, they must retire," Sjafrie clarified.
The Defense Minister expressed gratitude to the House of Representatives for prioritizing the national interest of the TNI as a state defense institution, aiming to enhance its professionalism, modernization, and capability. He noted that the TNI bill proposes amendments to three key areas: the TNI's position in state administration, the extension of service age, and the regulation of TNI placement in civil positions.
A crucial aspect of the TNI Law revision is the expansion of eligible ministries or institutions. "As we all know, in the law, there are 15 institutions that can be held by active TNI personnel, as stated in Law 34 (TNI Law) currently in force," Sjafrie stated.
The 15 ministries or institutions proposed to be held by active TNI personnel without requiring early retirement from active military service are:
1. Coordinator of Political and State Security Affairs
2. Ministry of Defense
3. Presidential Military Secretary
4. State Intelligence
5. State Cryptography
6. National Resilience Agency
7. National Defense Council
8. National Search and Rescue Agency
9. National Narcotics Agency
10. Maritime and Fisheries
11. National Disaster Mitigation Agency
12. National Counterterrorism Agency
13. Maritime Security
14. Attorney General's Office
15. Supreme Court
Article 47 paragraph (2) of the current TNI Law lists only 10 ministries or institutions where active TNI personnel can hold positions. The article states, "Active personnel can hold positions in offices of coordinating political and state security affairs, the Ministry of Defense, the Presidential Military Secretary, the State Intelligence, State Cryptography, National Resilience Agency, National Defense Council, Search and Rescue (SAR) National, National Narcotics Agency, and the Supreme Court."
Based on Sjafrie's statement, there is a proposal to add 5 civil positions that can be held by TNI personnel: Maritime and Fisheries, National Disaster Mitigation Agency, National Counterterrorism Agency, Maritime Security, and the Attorney General's Office.
When questioned about the position of Lieutenant Colonel Inf Teddy Indra Wijaya, who currently serves as the Cabinet Secretary, Sjafrie did not provide a direct response.
He reiterated that TNI personnel must retire if they occupy positions outside the designated 15 ministries or institutions. "Does it fall into that category? If it falls outside the 15 categories, then the person must retire first before continuing their work," Sjafrie said.
Defense Minister Mentions 4 Targets for Revising the TNI Law
Sjafrie stated that the revision of the TNI Law, as proposed by the House of Representatives, is necessary to provide clearer legal grounds for the military role. "There are other tasks besides war without violating democratic principles and civilian supremacy," Sjafrie said at the meeting.
The Defense Minister further outlined several key objectives for the TNI Law revision: First, strengthening the policy of modernizing the main weapon system (alutsista) and the domestic defense industry; second, clarifying the limits and mechanisms for involving the TNI in non-military tasks; third, improving the welfare and social security for personnel; and fourth, adjusting provisions related to leadership, career paths, and retirement age according to the needs of the organization.
About the Retirement Age of Enlisted Personnel, Non-Commissioned Officers, and Officers
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Commission I, Dave Laksono, stated that the revised TNI Law proposes extending the retirement age for non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel to 58 years and 60 years for officers. "It will allow an extension [of retirement age] to 65 years for personnel with specific expertise and relevant positions in functional positions to optimize the human resources of the TNI," Dave said, as quoted from Antara.
Article 53 of the current TNI Law states, "Personnel serve in the military until the age of 58 for officers, and 53 for non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel."
The Golkar Party politician argued that this age limit is relevant to 2004. Therefore, a review is necessary to reflect current social conditions, particularly the lack of synchronization between the retirement age limits of the police and civilian state apparatus (ASN).
Dave, whose commission oversees defense, foreign affairs, communication and informatics, and intelligence, asserted that the proposal to extend the retirement age of TNI personnel is a necessity. According to him, this adjustment aims to optimize the potential of the TNI's human resources. Changing the age limit for TNI personnel can also ease the burden on the families of personnel, including housing, health insurance, and children's education needs.
M. Raihan Muzzaki and Antara contributed to the writing of this article.
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