TNI Commander Agus Subiyanto’s Potential Replacement Sparks Rumors, DPR Says No Surpres Received
JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Rumors of a potential replacement for Indonesian Army Chief of Staff (Panglima TNI) General Agus Subiyanto have intensified, with Army Chief of Staff (KSAD) General Maruli Simanjuntak emerging as a leading candidate. However, the House of Representatives (DPR) has denied receiving the presidential letter (Surpres) required to initiate the formal process, according to multiple reports.
Sejumlah members of the DPR confirmed to Kompas that the Surpres, reportedly issued by President Prabowo Subianto, had not yet arrived at the legislative body as of Wednesday, October 7, 2026. “Surpres sudah jalan malam ini,” a DPR member said, though this claim was later contradicted by official statements from the president’s office.
DPR Denies Receiving Surpres, President’s Office Also Dismisses Claims
Deputy Minister of State Secretary Bambang Eko Suhariyanto stated that the Presidential Palace had not submitted the Presidential Decree for the TNI Commander’s replacement to the House of Representatives (DPR). “Not yet, there hasn’t been one yet,” Bambang told reporters in Jakarta on Thursday, October 8, 2026. This aligns with statements from DPR Deputy Chairman Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, who told AFU.id that the legislative body had not received any official communication regarding the potential change.
Dasco also claimed that President Prabowo had not yet decided to replace Agus Subiyanto. “According to the information we have, the President will not replace the TNI Commander,” he said, adding that the president’s recent meeting with 800 high-ranking military and police officers was solely for capacity-building and not related to personnel changes.
Dasco emphasized that the meeting, which included 800 high-ranking TNI and Polri officers, was intended to provide “strengthening” and “enhanced national awareness,” according to source 4.
Maruli Simanjuntak Acknowledges Senior Military Officials as Candidates
Maruli Simanjuntak, the current Army Chief of Staff, has been linked to the potential leadership transition. While he did not confirm his candidacy, he acknowledged that all senior military officials are candidates for the position. “Yes, it’s okay if they are candidates. Everyone is a candidate. All chiefs of staff are candidates,” he told ANTARA News, laughing off questions about his preparedness for the House of Representatives’ vetting process.
Maruli’s career trajectory includes key roles in the Kopassus special forces and the Paspampres presidential security unit. His recent promotion to KSAD in November 2023 followed Agus Subiyanto’s appointment as Panglima TNI, a move that was itself expedited in 2023 after the previous chief’s retirement.
Maruli previously served as Commander of the Army Strategic Reserve Command (Pangkostrad) before becoming KSAD, according to source 3. He also received the Maha Putra Adi Pradana Medal of Honor from President Prabowo Subianto during the TNI’s 81st anniversary celebrations at TNI Headquarters, Cilangkap, Jakarta, on October 5, 2026.
Context of Rapid Personnel Changes
However, no such urgency has been reported for the TNI leadership change, with sources suggesting the process remains in its early stages.
Despite the lack of formal documentation, media outlets reported that journalists were reportedly instructed to gather on October 8, 2026, ahead of a scheduled DPR session. However, the official agenda for the session did not include the Panglima TNI appointment, according to Kompas.
This contrasts with the current uncertainty surrounding the Panglima TNI replacement.
DPR Members Disagree on Status of Surpres Document
While some DPR members claimed the Surpres was “already in motion,” others, including Deputy Chairman Saan Mustopa, stated that no such document had been received. “Itu kewenangannya Presiden, kita tunggu saja,” Mustopa said, emphasizing the legislative body’s limited role in the process.
Meanwhile, the absence of a confirmed timeline for Agus Subiyanto’s potential departure has left the situation in flux. The last public confirmation of his tenure came in November 2023, when he was appointed Panglima TNI following the retirement of Laksamana Yudho Margono.
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