ID :
16010
Fri, 08/15/2008 - 22:08
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https://www.oananews.org//node/16010
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MP: DEFENSE BUDGET FAR FROM SUFFICIENT
Jakarta, Aug 15 (ANTARA) - A senior lawmaker said the budget allocation of Rp35 trillion for the Defense Ministry and the Indonesian Military (TNI) next year is far from sufficient.
"The figure is far from the minimum need. Ideally, it should be Rp100 trillion as proposed by the Defense Ministry," Theo L Sambuaga, chief of the defense, information and foreign affairs commission of the House of Representatives (DPR), said at the parliament building here on Friday.
In terms of nominal value, the figure did not increase compared to the previous budget year when it was Rp34 trillion, he said.
"In fact, its real value falls if viewed from the rise in the prices of various goods and inflation," he said.
With the inadequate budget allocation, the Defense Ministry and the TNI must tighten their spending, the more so because the TNI was also required to increase its professionalism, upgrade its main armament systems and improve its troops' living standards, he said.
Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono said meanwhile the drop in budget allocation for the defense sector to Rp35 trillion in 2009 from Rp36.39 trillion this year would have a significant impact on the TNI's operational preparedness both in terms of human resources and main armament systems.
"The drop in budget allocation will have an impact on all budget items of the Defense Ministry and the TNI, including those related to exercises, education and procurement and maintenance of main armament systems," he said.
He said he was aware of the government's decision to focus 80 percent of the state budget on achieving high economic growth and improving the people's living standards and the rest on the defense and security sector.
"The important thing is not the amount of budget allocation but how to manage the existing budget more efficiently, effectively and accurately," he said.
In his state-of-the-nation address before the DPR earlier in the day, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the budget allocations for the Defense Ministry and the National Police next year would reach Rp35 trillion and Rp25.7 trillion respectively.
The budget allocations to the Defense Ministry and the National Police would give priority to safeguarding the country's sovereignty and maintaining peace and order, the president said.
"The figure is far from the minimum need. Ideally, it should be Rp100 trillion as proposed by the Defense Ministry," Theo L Sambuaga, chief of the defense, information and foreign affairs commission of the House of Representatives (DPR), said at the parliament building here on Friday.
In terms of nominal value, the figure did not increase compared to the previous budget year when it was Rp34 trillion, he said.
"In fact, its real value falls if viewed from the rise in the prices of various goods and inflation," he said.
With the inadequate budget allocation, the Defense Ministry and the TNI must tighten their spending, the more so because the TNI was also required to increase its professionalism, upgrade its main armament systems and improve its troops' living standards, he said.
Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono said meanwhile the drop in budget allocation for the defense sector to Rp35 trillion in 2009 from Rp36.39 trillion this year would have a significant impact on the TNI's operational preparedness both in terms of human resources and main armament systems.
"The drop in budget allocation will have an impact on all budget items of the Defense Ministry and the TNI, including those related to exercises, education and procurement and maintenance of main armament systems," he said.
He said he was aware of the government's decision to focus 80 percent of the state budget on achieving high economic growth and improving the people's living standards and the rest on the defense and security sector.
"The important thing is not the amount of budget allocation but how to manage the existing budget more efficiently, effectively and accurately," he said.
In his state-of-the-nation address before the DPR earlier in the day, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the budget allocations for the Defense Ministry and the National Police next year would reach Rp35 trillion and Rp25.7 trillion respectively.
The budget allocations to the Defense Ministry and the National Police would give priority to safeguarding the country's sovereignty and maintaining peace and order, the president said.
