Deputy Minister Of Defense Calls It Impossible For The TNI To Activate ABRI Dwifunctions Like The New Order Era

Deputy Minister Of Defense Muhammad Herin/PHOTO: Nailin In Saroh-VOI

Deputy Minister of Defense (Wamenhan) Muhammad Herindra said it was impossible for the TNI to reactivate ABRI's dwifunction like the New Order (Orba) era.

This was conveyed by the Deputy Minister of Defense in response to the issue of ABRI's duality because it was one of the substances of the revision of the TNI Law and the Police Law which opened up opportunities for officers to occupy a number of civilian positions.

"It's a democratic country. It's impossible for us to go back to what we used to be. The concerns are too excessive in my opinion," said Herindra at the DPR building, Senayan, Jakarta, Thursday, June 6.

According to Herindra, the assumption of ABRI's duality is too excessive. He also reminded that there are clear rules for the request of personnel to position certain positions.

"Right now, it has been regulated by strict regulations. So it's not arbitrary. Everyone also has rules, regulations, we also have the TNI, if we send personnel to other ministries, of course, also at the request of the K/L, it's not urgent. So I think if there are concerns, it's too much," explained Herindra.

Herindra emphasized that the traumatic things that have occurred in the past will not happen again. Moreover, according to him, the community does need a versatile TNI.

"It won't be. It's a democratic country. It's a long time ago. Don't compare it. Okay, there may have been a traumatic past. But let's look at the current conditions. Because I think there are a lot of TNI personnel that we still need. As stated by the TNI Commander earlier," said Herindra.

"In conflict areas, see, who teaches, who handles health? And we're not arbitrary. That's definitely it. Of course it's a request from the relevant ministries," he added.

Previously, the TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto asked the public not to worry about ABRI's duality. According to him, the TNI is now involved in everything. He also emphasized that what is happening now is the multifunction of ABRI, no longer the function of ABRI anymore as happened in the New Order era.

"Now it's not ABRI's dual anymore, ABRI's multifunction. Everything is us. There is our disaster there. Right? Try it. So don't think like that. It's democracy," said Agus at the DPR Building, Senayan, Jakarta, Thursday, June 6.

Agus then gave an example of ABRI's multifunction in Papua. Where, he said, the TNI did everything, from health services to providing education.

"Now in Papua. The one who teaches is my member, the TNI. Then my member's health service. Then you call ABRI's dyafunction or multifunction now? We don't think like that. We are for the good of this country," explained Agus.