Speaking to reporters following a meeting last week with House Commission I overseeing defense, Agus said that the military had evolved in serving the country in areas outside of national defense, while still remaining in line with prevailing regulations.

“[The TNI] does not have a dwifungsi [dual function] anymore, but a multifunctional role,” he said, as quoted by Kompas.com.

The military’s dual function system was in place during the authoritarian New Order regime and allowed the TNI, at the time called the Indonesian Armed Forces (ABRI), to take on civilian roles in government beyond its main task of safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity. They even held seats at the House. This system effectively turned the military into a tool for late president Soeharto to stamp out political dissidents for decades.

In an apparent attempt to dismiss concerns that the TNI Law revision would return the military to its New Order position, Agus said that members of the military had already been helping out with domestic affairs, such as going after separatists in Papua and providing medical aid in far-flung communities “for the good of the country”.

“We do everything. If there’s a disaster, we’re also there, right? So let’s not think [badly of the proposed TNI Law revision]. We’re a democratic country,” he added.

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