Defense Minister Sjafrie: TNI Only Has Cyber Units, Not Cyber Matra

Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin (right) accompanied by TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto at the DPR Building, Jakarta (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Minister of Defense (Menhan) Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin emphasized that currently the Indonesian National Army (TNI) only has a Cyber Unit, not a standalone cyber dimension.

"If there is a cyber dimension, later there will be the Army Chief of Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff, the Chief of Air Force Staff, and the Chief of Staff of the Cyber Force. However, among the chiefs of staff and Commanders there is a Cyber Unit," said Sjafrie at the Commission I Working Meeting of the DPR RI at the parliament complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Tuesday, February 4.

Sjafrie explained that the Cyber Unit in the TNI has similarities in function with the Cyber Defense Center at the Ministry of Defense. Currently, the development is carried out by recruiting professionals from outside the military environment.

This Cyber Unit takes professional personnel, not from those who are already active as soldiers. This is what we differentiate, "he said.

Furthermore, he emphasized that the main focus of the Cyber Unit is the use of advanced technology with an efficient number of personnel.

"Actually, the Cyber Unit that is needed is technology, not labor-intensive or needs a lot of people," he explained.

On the other hand, the TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto revealed that the Cyber Unit in the TNI has started operating.

"I have formed a Cyber Unit by recruiting hackers and people who have cyber capabilities, and this unit has started operating," said Agus.

Previously, in the same meeting, Member of Commission I DPR RI Syamsu Rizal questioned the progress of forming a cyber dimension within the TNI.

"Please explain, maybe at the next meeting, where has the fourth dimension planning come, the Cyber Force?" asked Rizal.