The Process of Revision of Law (Law) Number 34 of 2004 concerning the Indonesian National Army (TNI) again attracted public attention. Many parties criticized the discussion that seemed in a hurry and lacking community participation. This increasingly triggered controversy considering the revision of the TNI Law was not included in the 2025 National Legislation Program (Prolegnas) which was passed in November 2024.
The discussion of the TNI Bill was carried out in private at a five-star hotel in Jakarta on March 14-15, 2025, which drew protests from a number of civil society present at the meeting site. Now, the TNI Bill is only waiting for endorsement at the DPR Plenary Meeting which has been scheduled today.
Discussion of lightning without public participation
The speed in the discussion of the TNI Bill is in the spotlight of many parties. Criticism related to lack of transparency in this legislation process is not the first time addressed to the DPR. Previously, there were a number of other laws that also experienced a flash discussion, including the Work Copyright Law and the revision of the KPK Law. Although there was a promise from the Deputy Chairperson of the DPR Legislation Board, Ahmad Doli Kurnia, in October 2024, who promised to avoid the discussion of the law in a hurry, in fact the promise did not seem to be fulfilled.
According to researcher for the Indonesian Parliament Cares Forum (Formappi), Lucius Karus, the legislation process that lacks public participation is actually becoming a habit of the Parliament. He considered, the TNI Bill that was drafted at this time only followed the wishes of some people, not based on the needs of the community as a whole. “This fast discussion is more driven by certain interests, not the real need,” said Lucius.
Recurring problems in the legislation process
Lucius also noted that the habits of rush legislation had begun since the previous period, starting with the revision of the KPK Law at the end of the 2014-2019 period. Then, the lightning process continued in the discussion of the Work Cipta Bill which began on April 2, 2020 and was passed on October 5, 2020, although this process gave rise to controversy and a number of rules that were canceled by the Constitutional Court. A similar discussion also occurred to the State Capital Bill (IKN) which was completed in a short time, between December 2021 and January 2022.
Lucius criticized this habit because often the discussion of the bill was carried out in a closed manner and without providing space for the community to be involved. The fast process, according to him, is often used for certain political purposes that can weaken the institutions that are being discussed, such as in the case of the TNI Bill.
Potential Dangers of Discussion of Lightning
Lucius also reminded that the revision of the TNI Law has the potential to damage the professionalism of national defense institutions. He argues that the DPR often makes legislation as a means of bargaining politics, which can harm the long -term in an effort to build the TNI as a professional institution. “This hurry discussion opens a gap for the entry of political interests that can hamper the development of the TNI as a vanguard in front of national defense,” he added.
According to Lucius, this rushed legislation process damaged the basic principles that should be in the formation of laws, as mandated by the Law on the Formation of Legislation (PPP). The mechanism that should be transparent and participatory instead becomes blurred, with stages that are not clear and often manipulated.
Political interests Behind the Discussion of Lightning
Political researchers from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Wasisto Raharjo Jati, revealed that the Parliament often prioritizes speed in the discussion of the bill to meet the targets of the annual law settlement. This lightning process, said Wasis, often ignores important stages in legislation, such as listening to public opinions that should be part of the process of making transparent and accountable laws.
Wasis also added that Prolegnas that had been prepared sometimes not in accordance with the development of the issue that arose in the community. Quick decisions were taken to accommodate certain political interests that intersect, both from within and outside the legislative institution itself.
What should be considered in the future?
This lightning and closed discussion is clearly a problem that needs serious attention. If the DPR continues to ignore transparency and public participation in the legislation process, the law making system will increasingly lose its credibility in the eyes of the community. The revision of the TNI Law may be only one example of a larger trend, where political interests are a top priority above the needs of the people.