Recently, Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, took the initiative to distribute the draft of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) Bill to journalists. This was in response to concerns circulating on social media alleging that the bill did not align with the actual deliberations within the DPR. Dasco clarified that the online drafts differed from the one being discussed in Commission I of the DPR RI, stressing that the revisions in the bill aim to strengthen legal frameworks to prevent future violations, particularly focusing on three specific articles.
The three articles under review include Article 3, Paragraph (2) concerning defense policy and strategy coordination, Article 53 concerning the retirement age of TNI personnel, and Article 47 allowing active-duty TNI personnel to hold positions in certain ministries or government institutions. Minister of Defense Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin had previously presented a list of problem inventories (DIM) for the TNI Bill to the DPR, proposing amendments to the existing TNI Law. Assuring that the revisions are solely directed at the three aforementioned articles, Sjafrie emphasized the importance of civilian supremacy in the roles and operations of the TNI.
The distribution of the draft to journalists aimed to address misconceptions and criticisms related to the TNI Bill. Dasco encouraged journalists to personally review the draft to gain a deeper understanding of the revisions and dispel any concerns propagated on social media. The core focus remains on upholding civilian supremacy within the TNI, with the DPR dedicated to transparent discussions and legal enhancements in defense-related policies.
