House Commission I Hopes Involvement of TNI in Training LPDP Participants Will Be Reviewed

Members of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), TB Hasanuddin, hope that the programme involving the TNI in preparing scholarship recipients from the Education Fund Management Institution (LPDP) will be reviewed. Hasanuddin assesses that the plan has the potential to conflict with the law and disrupt the TNI’s professionalism as a defence instrument. “The involvement of the TNI in this context needs to be reviewed. We must ensure that every state institution works according to its main duties and functions,” said Hasanuddin in his statement on Wednesday (6/5). He explained that Law No. 3 of 2025 on the TNI strictly regulates the TNI’s duties, including within the framework of Military Operations Other Than War (OMSP), which encompasses 16 types of tasks. In that list, said Hasan, there is no mandate that specifically regulates the TNI’s role as a presenter in the preparation of scholarship recipients. “In the list of OMSP tasks, there is nothing directly related to the role as a teacher in the scholarship preparation programme. This is important to pay attention to so that there is no expansion of roles outside the legal corridor,” said the Commission member in the DPR, one of whose duties is to handle the defence sector. Hasanuddin also reminded that civil institutions or agencies should not easily involve the TNI outside its main duties. According to him, this has the potential to affect the focus, professionalism, and readiness of the TNI in carrying out its national defence functions. The retired soldier who once served as the President’s Military Secretary (Sesmilpres) said that values such as discipline, leadership, and love for the homeland do not always have to be given by the TNI. In his view, such values can be instilled through various approaches that are more contextual to the world of education. “The more often the TNI is involved in matters outside of defence, it is feared that it will impact the consistency and commitment in carrying out its main tasks,” said the PDIP politician. Previously, the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Mendikti Saintek), Brian Yuliarto, reasoned that the involvement of the state defence institution was so that scholarship recipients would not experience culture shock when studying abroad. In addition, according to him, the TNI will also strengthen national values and discipline training for scholarship recipients. “So that they do not experience culture shock and the like. Including discipline. There is also strengthening of nationalism,” he said to reporters, quoted from 20Detik, on Sunday (3/4). Nevertheless, he explained that the criteria for TNI soldiers who will be involved in training LPDP scholarship recipients are still being discussed. Meanwhile, the Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU), which is involved in training LPDP scholarship recipients, has also spoken out. The Head of the Air Force Information Service (Kadispenau), First Marshal (Marsma) I Nyoman Suadnyana, confirmed that his side is facilitating the implementation of the Departure Preparation (PK) programme held by LPDP. The preparation is being held at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base, East Jakarta, this week—from Monday (4/5) to Saturday (9/5). “The programme is attended by prospective scholarship recipients and LPDP scholarship recipients at the Master’s (S2) and Doctoral (S3) levels, both for domestic and overseas studies, as part of the preparation before entering the study period,” said Nyoman when contacted on Tuesday (5/5). He explained that the material given to the participants is focused on strengthening mental readiness, discipline, leadership, love for the homeland, and character building. Nyoman denied that the participants received drill training. “With presenters from various government agencies including personnel from Halim Air Base, they are asked to fill according to the request,” he said.