Jakarta – The Development and Financial Comptroller Agency (BPKP) must look into the use of the Defense Ministry's budget to make sure budget allocation for low-ranking military officers is adequate to meet their needs, a discussion concluded here Monday.
The executive director of the Indonesian Institute for Strategic and Defense Studies (Lesperssi), Rizal Darma Putra, said budget allocation at the ministry was inefficient and the money was not used where it was most needed.
"The BPKP has to optimize its supervisory functions because low-ranking military officers' welfare has been a continuous problem, and needs to be resolved," Rizal said during a discussion to mark the launching of a book titled The Country's Reform on the Security Sector in Jakarta.
Luthfi Ahsan Ishaq, member of Commission I at the House of Representatives, overseeing defense, foreign affairs and information, told the discussion the welfare of low-ranking officers in the Indonesian military (TNI) had been neglected for more than a decade. "They have not obtained proper housing and food," Luthfi said. "They also have poor health services."
Rizal said improving the BPKP's supervision was expected to lead to better conditions for military officials due to a better disbursement system.
"The current budget compositions have not proportionally catered to low-ranking military officers' welfare and the primary weaponry defense system," he added. The government has announced it intends to raise the defense budget to Rp 40.7 trillion, or up by Rp 7 trillion, from last year.
Luthfi said although the budget would rise, the soldiers' condition could stay the same because of the budget was inefficient.
Rizal said inefficient budget allocation had been driven by the outdated ministry's threat assessment, which many say is irrelevant to the present defense situation.
"The military still predicts we will face large wars," he said. "That's why it allocates funds for excessive procurement of spare components, such as weapons and vehicles. Actually, the spare components are unnecessary as we are unlikely to face wars while our officers' welfare is insufficient," he said
Rizal said the National Police was in a better position than the TNI because the police had power to control its budget allocation and determine its strategic planning since it separated from the military five years ago.
"The National Police has not only been controlling its own budget and determining its strategic planning," he said, "There is no third party involved in supervising the institution."
Therefore, he said, the public should raise questions about the National Police's accountability.
Rizal expressed hope the bill on national security could be passed immediately. "The bill is expected to lead to a better security system," he said.
Luthfi did not specify the House's future commitment to the welfare of military officers. "We will talk about it with other parties at the House and the Finance Ministry," he said, adding the discussions would revolve around the defense ministry's budget compositions and expenditure. (nia)