IDNEWSNOW.COM, Jakarta – Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto attended a hearing with Commission I of the House of Representatives (DPR) today, June 2. The agenda included talks about general strategies and policies for the 2020-2024 state defense or primary defense weapon systems (Alutsista).
“In this meeting, we will surely explain [the ministry’s] future plans, and there will be a question and answer session. We will try to explain it as clearly as possible,” said Prabowo in front of journalists in the Senayan Parliament Complex, Wednesday.
The meeting will also discuss the modernization of defense equipment. “How can you know of it? You know better,” the minister confirmed about the agenda.
Based on the circulating draft of Presidential Regulation or Perpres on the defense and security equipment of the Defense Ministry and the Indonesian Military (TNI) for 2020-2023, the budget for the procurement reached US$124 billion or Rp1,773 trillion.
Prabowo said he would explain everything related to the draft in the hearing with the DPR. However, the Gerindra party chair was reluctant to confirm which country would be willing to provide fundings under foreign loan schemes for the procurement of Alutsista. “The DPR will ask me about it, not you,” he told journalists while laughing.
Last Monday, Prabowo Subianto was absent from the same agenda. His absence was criticized by the DPR Commission I Member Effendi Simbolon. “We haven’t met the Defense Minister here in almost a year. Sorry, with all due respect, this is a state issue that must be discussed,” said Effendi in the Parliament complex, Jakarta.
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