“I have received the order from the President to form the TNI cyber force,” said TNI commander Gen. Agus Subiyanto on Tuesday, as quoted by Antara.

Discussions in the TNI on the details of the new cyber force were still ongoing, Agus said, but plans were already forming around equipping each of the existing three armed services, the Army, Navy and Air Force, with a cyber unit. With expertise in the information and technology sector prioritized, a big chunk of the manpower for the cyber unit will most likely be professional civilians, he added.

While it was imperative that Indonesia improve its cybersecurity following a string of cyberattacks that hit state institutions, the formation of the TNI cyber force would require discussions with the House of Representatives that could not be rushed, a lawmaker said.

Dave Laksono of House Commission I overseeing defense, information and intelligence revealed that internal discussions among lawmakers had already begun on the formation of the cyber force as the fourth branch of the military. He said the commission had also held meetings with the National Cyber and Encryption Agency (BSSN) on the matter.

Yet with the current House term drawing to a close, Dave said that any further discussions were likely to be continued after Oct. 1, when new lawmakers are sworn in.

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