Retired General Criticises TNI's Provisioning for LPDP Recipients: All Must Work According to Their Core Functions

Retired Major General (Maj Gen) TNI TB Hasanuddin believes that the orientation provided by the TNI to recipients of scholarships from the Education Fund Management Institution (LPDP) needs to be reviewed. According to him, this review is necessary to ensure it does not contradict statutory provisions and does not disrupt the TNI’s professionalism as a tool of national defence.

“The involvement of the TNI in this context needs to be reviewed. We must ensure that every state institution works according to its main tasks and functions (tupoksi),” said Hasanuddin in Jakarta on Tuesday (5/5/2026).

The member of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) stated that the orientation covers material on mental readiness, discipline, leadership, as well as instilling the value of love for the homeland and character building.

According to him, Law No. 3 of 2025 on amendments to the TNI Law clearly regulates the duties of the TNI, including within the framework of military operations other than war (OMSP), which encompasses 16 types of tasks. However, he said there is no specific mandate regulating the TNI’s role as a presenter in the orientation for scholarship recipients.

“In the list of OMSP tasks, there is nothing directly related to the role as a teacher in scholarship orientation programmes. This is important to note to avoid role expansion beyond the legal corridor,” he said.

In addition, Hasanuddin also reminded government agencies not to involve the TNI outside its main duties because this has the potential to affect the TNI’s focus, professionalism, and readiness. If the TNI is increasingly involved in matters outside defence, he fears it will impact the consistency and commitment in carrying out its primary tasks.

He also emphasised that the orientation for LPDP scholarship recipients should be adjusted to the main objective of the programme, which is to produce superior human resources in academic and scientific fields.