TNI Commander Admits President Jokowi Has Ordered The Form Of The Cyber Force

TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto during an interview at the Parliament Complex, Jakarta, Tuesday (3/9/2024). (ANTARA/Bagus Ahmad Rizaldi)

TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto admitted that his party had received orders from President Joko Widodo to form the Cyber Force as the fourth dimension in the TNI institution. "I have been ordered by the President, yesterday also from the MPR during a speech, to make the TNI Cyber Force," Agus said after attending a working meeting with Commission I of the DPR RI at the Parliament Complex, Jakarta, Antara, Tuesday, September 3. He said that currently the TNI already has a cyber unit. According to him, the unit really depends on the capabilities of human resources. So far, the TNI has only planned to create a cyber center at headquarters (mabes) and also in every dimension. According to him, the recruitment of personnel will also come from high school and university graduates. However, according to him, the cyber unit will be different from other units in the TNI because it will be more filled by civilian personnel. Later, he said, the recruitment of the unit will prioritize its expertise. "Indeed, if cyber is different from other units, maybe there will be more civilians," he said. However, he admitted that he had not held any special talks with the DPR RI, because his presence at the DPR this Tuesday only discussed the issue of the defense budget. Previously (16/8), Chairman of the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Bambang Soesatyo alias Bamsoet assessed that it was time for Indonesia to immediately prepare for the formation of the IV dimension of the Indonesian National Army (TNI) by presenting the Cyber Force. "His presence is to strengthen the three existing dimensions, namely the Army, Navy, and Air Force," said Bamsoet in the Introductory Speech of the 2024 MPR Annual Session at the MPR/DPR/DPD RI Building, Jakarta.

Bamsoet said this was important considering that Indonesia's geopolitical position was very vulnerable because it was directly facing the tridents of the British Commonwealth, namely Malaysia, Singapore, and Australia.