Air Force Claims LPDP Requested Military Briefing for Scholarship Recipients
The Headquarters of the Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) has stated that the involvement of military personnel in the briefing for recipients of scholarships from the Education Fund Management Institution (LPDP) was requested by the LPDP management itself. The Head of the Air Force Information Service, First Marshal I Nyoman Suadnyana, said that the TNI is merely assisting by providing the venue and delivering content as per LPDP’s request.
“From the LPDP side (who requested it), we are only the implementers helping out,” Nyoman said when contacted on Sunday, 3 May 2026.
Nyoman explained that, according to the request letter sent by LPDP to the TNI AU, they were asked to provide instruction on marching, discipline, and character strengthening. Therefore, the materials and lessons to be given to the participants will not deviate from the values requested by LPDP.
“The TNI AU in principle is only helping to prepare the venue and instructors for the materials as per LPDP’s request, so it will not stray from the purpose of the activity,” Nyoman said.
Based on the event letter received by Tempo, the briefing will take place from 4-9 May 2026 at the Marshal Sukardi Building, Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base. Some of the materials in the agenda are stated to be delivered by TNI personnel.
The letter records that 206 participants are scheduled to attend the event. They consist of recipients of master’s and doctoral programme scholarships, both for studies in Indonesia and abroad. The entire series of activities is mandatory before the participants begin their studies.
The Head of the Law and Communications Division of LPDP, M. Lukmanul Hakim, said that the TNI’s involvement is only to assist with outdoor activities. TNI personnel will guide the outdoor activities that are part of the briefing series for scholarship recipients.
Lukman claimed that the agenda is not the same as national defence training, even though it is held in a military area and involves TNI personnel. “The choice of location or implementation method does not change the purpose or content of the briefing provided,” he said when contacted on Friday night, 1 May 2026.
However, the policy has drawn objections from several scholarship recipients. One participant who declined to be named questioned the involvement of the TNI in delivering materials. According to him, participants were informed that they would stay in tents during the event and be limited to using mobile phones for only one hour per day. “Almost everyone is questioning what it’s for,” he said when contacted on Friday, 1 May 2026.
According to him, several scholarship recipients have voiced objections to the LPDP management. However, he said, the organisers stated that those provisions are a management decision.