The Potential Return of the Dual Function of ABRI

By H. Imam Santoso

24 Dec 2025 24 December 2025 05:10 WIB 6 min read reading time: 6 minutes 12 read Updated: 17 Jan 2026 19:15 WIB Updated: 17 January 2026 19:15 WIB

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The filling of civilian positions by the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the Indonesian National Police (Polri) raises public concerns about the return of the Dual Function of ABRI as in the New Order era.

Ilustrasi Gambar oleh Redaksi (Source: AI Generate)

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Table of Contents

4 sections

Dwifungsi ABRI (Dual Function of the Armed Forces)
Expansion of Civil Positions
Back to Fitrah (Nature)
Table of contents

Section 3/3: Back to Fitrah (Nature)

Back to Fitrah (Nature)

Civilian ministries/institutions should indeed only be filled by civilians. Likewise, military/Police institutions are filled by military/Police. The nation's best sons must occupy their appropriate places. “The right man the right place”

The Indonesian National Army (TNI) as a defense tool of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI), is tasked with implementing state defense policies to uphold state sovereignty, maintain territorial integrity, protect the safety of the nation, carry out military operations for war and military operations other than war, and actively participate in the task of maintaining world peace.

The corridor of TNI's existence is tasked with implementing state defense policies to uphold state sovereignty, maintain territorial integrity, protect the safety of the nation, carry out military operations. while the realm of the Police includes maintaining public security and order, law enforcement, protection, guidance, and service to the community.

It is clear that the placement of TNI and Polri members in ministries/institutions violates nature and injures civilian supremacy, and can even be categorized as contrary to the Constitutional Court (MK) Decision through decision number114/PUU-XXIII/2025 which states that it limits civilian positions for active security forces, both TNI and or Polri. The Constitutional Court's decision is final and binding on all state institutions, so it should not be circumvented through lower regulations, namely Perpol 10 of 2025, not just a matter of technical staffing, but a constitutional principle to maintain civilian supremacy and state neutrality (Prof. Dr. H. Mohammad Mahfud Mahmuddin, S.H., S.U., M.I.P. In a podcast forum)