Jakarta – Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono has asked for Rp 460 billion in extra funds to help the Indonesian Military (TNI) conduct operations related to maintaining territorial integrity.

He is proposing the finance ministry allocate an additional Rp 460 billion for this fiscal year. Hopefully the budget will cover our needs in safeguarding the country," Juwono told a press conference after a meeting with TNI chief Gen. Djoko Santoso.

The House approved a Rp 33.6 trillion defense budget for 2009, the lion's share of which went to soldiers' welfare.

Djoko said the TNI had prepared a contingency plan if the request was denied.course we will cut the budget for ceremonial events and allocate more money for priority expenditures," he said.