DPR Approves Bills to Ratify Defence Cooperation with Turkey and Malaysia
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The plenary session of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) has approved the ratification of two bills related to defence cooperation with Turkey and Malaysia. The two bills are the Bill on the Ratification of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and the Government of the Republic of Turkey concerning Cooperation in the Field of Defence, and the Bill on the Ratification of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and the Government of Malaysia in the Field of Defence Cooperation.
“Now we will ask each faction, can these be approved to be enacted into law?” said DPR Speaker Puan Maharani at the DPR building in Jakarta on Tuesday, to which all factions responded “agreed.”
Deputy Chairman of Commission I of the DPR, Anton Sukartono Suratto, explained that discussions on the two bills had commenced in April 2026. During the process, Commission I, which oversees defence affairs, sought input from experts and civil society. Discussions were also held with the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Law.
Anton stated that the commission-level talks agreed to bring both bills to the plenary session. All factions viewed the defence cooperation with Turkey and Malaysia as having strategic value. “All factions view that the defence cooperation between Indonesia, Turkey, and Malaysia is of very strategic value in strengthening geopolitical stability, transferring defence industry technology, and increasing the capacity of military human resources,” he said.
Commission I is committed to emphasising the importance of consistently carrying out its oversight and budgetary functions. He noted that the effectiveness of the law’s implementation post-ratification depends on objective oversight. Furthermore, the implementation of the law requires measured, effective, and sustainable budgetary support. “Strong funding is absolutely necessary to fulfil commitments in a timely manner, including financing the strategic plan to improve the quality of defence human resources through binding and comprehensive joint training,” Anton said.
Previously, Deputy Minister of Defence Donny Ermawan stated in a first-level decision-making meeting on Wednesday (1/7) that the agreements with Turkey and Malaysia could not yet be enforced as they were still awaiting the fulfilment of domestic legal procedures by each party. Therefore, the DPR’s approval of the two ratification bills is a crucial step for the cooperation to come into force and be implemented. He also stressed that the defence cooperation with Turkey and Malaysia is developed based on the principles of equality, mutual benefit, and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each country.