JAKARTA, RAKYAT NEWS – Prominent military analyst Connie Rahakundini Bakrie has issued an open letter to Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) Commander General Agus Subiyanto, calling for a revision of Article 3 in the newly passed TNI Law.

The provision transfers authority over maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) of military assets from the three TNI branches to the Ministry of Defense (Kemenhan).

In her letter, posted on Instagram (@connierahakundinibakrie), Bakrie warned that centralizing MRO under Kemenhan could harm TNI’s operational readiness. She argued that each military branch—Army, Navy, and Air Force—has unique technical requirements, and a one-size-fits-all approach would slow down maintenance and reduce combat effectiveness.

Bakrie also raised concerns about the loss of branch autonomy. Previously, each service managed its own equipment, ensuring quick responses to operational needs. Shifting control to Kemenhan, she said, could create bureaucratic delays and weaken TNI’s ability to act independently.

Another major issue highlighted was the risk of corruption. Centralizing MRO could lead to monopolies in spare parts procurement, making oversight more difficult and opening opportunities for graft. Bakrie urged stronger transparency measures to prevent misuse of authority.

The analyst also questioned potential political and business influences in defense procurement. While some state-owned defense firms (PT PAL, PT DI, PT Pindad) might benefit, she warned that without clear regulations, the change could favor certain interest groups over national security needs.

Bakrie expressed disappointment over the lack of public discussion before the law’s passage. She noted that TNI leadership remained silent during legislative debates, despite the policy’s significant impact on military operations.