Asked About Holding Multiple Posts, Maruli Simanjuntak Reveals His Main Duties

Jakarta, VIVA – General Maruli Simanjuntak revealed his main duties after journalists asked him about holding multiple posts at the State Palace on Thursday (15 October 2026).

President Prabowo Subianto formally appointed him Deputy Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Thursday (15 October). Maruli is also concurrently serving as head of the National Agency for Border and Remote Areas Management.

His appointment was made under Presidential Decrees No. 105 and 106 of 2026 concerning the TNI.

Maruli explained that his workload would now be split between two roles. “Yes, my workload has become two,” he said with a smile.

He called the move an excellent idea, noting that the border agency already existed. “The agency is currently under the Ministry of Home Affairs. It is being developed further because, over the past few years, I have done a great deal of work to improve the economy of people in remote areas,” he said.

“I think this may be the President’s idea: to focus more on the people living in border and remote areas,” he added.

He explained that his agency role was to lead the National Agency for Border and Remote Areas Management. “As Deputy Commander, I will assist the Commander. I think that is what it entails,” he said.

He reiterated that the agency and its organisational structure were already in place. “With the added responsibility of managing border areas, why not also boost the economies of remote regions? We do not always have the funding ourselves, but we can coordinate with the Ministry of Villages and other ministries to improve people’s livelihoods in the regions,” he concluded.