Defence Ministry's Response After Kopdes Manager Candidate Dies from TB
A participant in basic military training to become a manager of the ‘Red and White’ village cooperatives (Kopdes Merah Putih) was declared dead after suffering from tuberculosis (TB) on Tuesday, 23 June 2026. The participant, named Novia Rahmadhani Sihotang, was undergoing training at the Language Centre of the Indonesian Air Force’s Doctrine, Education, and Training Development Command in Jakarta.
Lieutenant Colonel Ichsan, a member of the Military Medical Corps, stated that Novia had undergone a series of medical examinations according to procedure and was declared medically fit. In the results of that examination, Ichsan said, no indication of tuberculosis was found, but rather pneumonia or a lung infection.
“At the time of the X-ray examination, there was no TB. However, the latest finding during the second examination was a hospital diagnosis of TB,” Ichsan said during a press conference at the Ministry of Defence in Jakarta on Saturday, 27 June 2026.
Ichsan emphasised that TB is a disease that disqualifies candidates from meeting the health requirements for Red and White village cooperative managers. However, he claimed Novia’s initial medical results only showed a viral lung infection, so she was still declared to have passed.
Major General Ketut Gede Wetan Pastia, Head of the Human Resources Development Agency at the Ministry of Defence, said there are several types of diseases that cannot be detected in the health checks conducted by the National Selection Committee. To anticipate TB transmission, the organisers traced participants and training committee members at Halim Perdanakusuma.
Ketut said the results of the tracing showed there had been TB transmission to other participants, leading to their isolation. He claimed the situation had been followed up by doctors and declared safe.
“I can convey that as of now, there has been a separation; indeed, several people indicated to have contracted the virus (bacteria) are in a safe and controlled condition,” Ketut stated.
He further said that the Ministry of Health has been involved in tracing the spread of TB bacteria and other viruses. Ketut conveyed that Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin has ordered a health evaluation after five cooperative manager candidates died during the military training, which is still ongoing.
The evaluation includes medical supervision, health profiling, adjustment of physical activity intensity, regulation of the referral system, and implementation of early detection mechanisms for participants with risk factors. The Ministry of Health is providing medical assistance, particularly in the mitigation and handling of lung diseases and infectious diseases.
According to Ketut, the military training attended by participants does not emphasise physical ability, but rather the formation of mentality, character, cooperation, and problem-solving skills. He claimed the military training programme was designed in a measured way, taking into account the participants’ civilian backgrounds.
“We need to emphasise that this activity is not aimed at turning participants into soldiers or military members. The participants remain in their civilian professions and assignments,” he said.
Based on the chronology read out by Ketut, Novia Rahmadhani Sihotang came to the clinic with complaints of a productive cough, shortness of breath, and fever on Monday, 22 June 2026 at 14:30 WIB. The medical team conducted an examination and monitored Novia. The next morning, Novia’s condition weakened further, and she was referred to the RSAU dr. Esnawan Antariksa, which found active pulmonary TB in a chest X-ray.
Novia was then treated in the isolation ICU. At 15:00 WIB, the patient experienced a loss of consciousness, and the medical team performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation. However, at 15:13 WIB, the doctor declared Novia deceased due to tuberculosis.