Only 1 Year As Commander Of The Indonesian Armed Forces, Could Jokowi's Term Of Office Be Extended By General Andika?

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairman of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives Abdul Kharis Almasyhari predicts President Joko Widodo will extend the term of office of General Andika Perkasa as TNI Commander by two years until 2024. Originally, General Andika would retire at the end of 2022.

"I believe (General Andika's term of office) will be extended, there are two ways, yes," said Abdul Kharis during the discussion on the Four Pillars of the MPR RI at the Parliament Complex, Jakarta, Monday, November 8.

The two possibilities, continued Kharis, are the personal extension of General Andika Perkasa's term of office. Or make a Presidential Regulation (Perpres) related to the extension of the tenure of high-ranking TNI officers.

The PKS politician said that to change the term of office, he had to go through a revision of Law Number 34 of 2004 concerning the TNI. The change, said Kharis, had been planned but had not yet been implemented by the government.

"So far, it wants to be revised, but it has not started because it is a proposal from the government. I see it will be extended," he said.

Kharis added that the tenure of enlisted and non-commissioned officers is possible to increase to 58 years. Thus, he estimates that the tenure of high-ranking TNI officers will also increase by two years, namely up to 60 years.

"I'm not talking that it will be extended on behalf of General Andika himself, but I am sure (the term of office of the TNI Commander, ed) is up to 60 years, that means it ends in 2024," he said.