Indonesia’s parliament on Thursday passed an amendment to the armed forces law, allowing military personnel to hold a greater number of government positions, a move that has drawn criticism over concerns it could expand military influence in civilian affairs.

The revision, championed by President Prabowo Subianto’s coalition, extends the military’s role beyond defence, marking a significant shift in a country where the armed forces have historically wielded considerable power.

The amendment has sparked fears of a return to the authoritarian era of former president Suharto, under whom Prabowo served as a general. During Suharto’s rule, military officials held key government positions and were instrumental in suppressing dissent.

"Now it's the time for us to ask the factions to approve the amendment... can we agree to legalise it into a law?" House Speaker Puan Maharani said during the plenary session.

The lawmakers responded with a resounding “agree”, following which Puan struck the gavel, officially passing the amendment.

Expanded role

Previously, under the 2004 military law, active-duty officers could serve in only 10 government institutions, including the defence ministry. To hold positions in other state bodies, military personnel were required to resign or retire from service.

The revised law now expands this provision to 14 state institutions, including the Attorney General’s Office and the disaster mitigation agency. Military chief General Agus Subiyanto had earlier told parliament that the existing law was outdated and no longer relevant.

Concerns over human rights

Rights groups have strongly opposed the changes, warning that they could enable the government to fill more civilian posts with active-duty military officers, potentially undermining democratic governance and legal checks on abuses.

"President Prabowo appears intent on restoring the Indonesian military’s role in civilian affairs, which were long characterised by widespread abuses and impunity," Andreas Harsono, senior Indonesia researcher at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement.

He added that the government’s swift approval of the amendments “undercuts its expressed commitment to human rights and accountability.”