Jakarta (ANTARA) - Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, known as AHY and the Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, emphasized that the recently passed TNI Law will not revert Indonesia back to the dual function of the military, known as ABRI, reminiscent of the New Order era. "It is not true that this will bring back the ABRI dual function era. Indeed, there are mixed narratives circulating in society, and we must patiently observe and detail what distinguishes this law from its predecessor," AHY stated during a meeting at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base in East Jakarta on March 23, 2025.
AHY, the eldest son of Indonesia's sixth president, pointed out that the law revision significantly limits the capacity of active TNI officers in civil jobs, thereby promoting professionalism within the military. "With this law, the corridors for the TNI are more clearly defined to prevent easy access to civil institutions not regulated by this law. This is an effort to preserve the professionalism and core duties of the TNI," he added.
Despite AHY's clarifications, public misunderstandings surrounding the intent and implications of the TNI Law persist. Consequently, he called for comprehensive public socialization to help clarify the primary objectives behind this new regulation.
The revised TNI Law specifies which ministries and institutions can be occupied by active military personnel, including: the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, the Ministry of Defense, the Presidential Secretariat, State Intelligence Agency (BIN), National Cyber and Crypto Agency (BSSN), National Resilience Institute (Lemhannas), Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), National Narcotics Agency (BNN), the Supreme Court, and the newly added National Border Management Agency (BNPP), National Counter Terrorism Agency (BNPT), Bakamla, and the Attorney General's Office.
AHY assured that the military's involvement in civil institutions is relevant but restricted to functions aligned with Military Operations Other Than War (OMSP), and not as a tool for civil power like in the past.
Further complicating the discourse surrounding the TNI Law is the controversy involving Muhammad Fallah Musyaffa, chairman of the Islamic Student Association (HMI) at the State University of Jakarta (UNJ). He has come under public scrutiny for allegedly misleading students into supporting the TNI Law revision during a breaking-of-fast event, purportedly using this social gathering as a facade for political maneuvering.
Openly endorsing the revision on March 20, 2025, just after it was passed by the DPR RI, Fallah claimed that the changes represent a strategic initiative to bolster Indonesia's national defense system. On March 21, 2025, he proclaimed, "We, as students, fully support the ratification of the TNI Law," during a discussion organized by the association.
However, this support is not unanimous, especially within HMI UNJ itself. The HMI Faculty of Social Sciences and Law (HMI FISH UNJ) distanced itself from Fallah, asserting that his statements did not reflect their views and adamantly rejected the TNI Law revision, perceiving it as fundamentally contradictory to the principles of civilian supremacy and democratic values.
The controversy around Fallah intensified as unexpected information emerged about his academic status. According to data from the Higher Education Database (Pangkalan Data Pendidikan Tinggi), Fallah is no longer an active student at UNJ. While listed in the Geography Education Bachelor program, he was marked as non-active as of the even semester of 2024/2025. This raises questions about his position and authority to represent student sentiments.
These developments highlight a critical moment in Indonesia's governance discourse, as the nation grapples with balancing military authority and civilian leadership in a post-reform era. While AHY insists on the professionalism and constraints placed upon military roles, the contrasting perspectives from figures like Fallah illustrate the contentious nature of military involvement in civil affairs.
The bifurcation of support and dissent within the student body, particularly in organizations like HMI, underscores the importance of engaging in informed dialogues about national security legislation. As misunderstandings pervade public opinion, a concerted effort towards education and transparency is vital for Indonesia moving forward.
