Jakarta – The House of Representatives and the government have agreed to allocate Rp 108 trillion (US$8.31 billion) for the Defense Ministry's 2017 budget, an increase from the Rp 104 trillion proposed earlier.
The increase makes the Defense Ministry the state institution/ministry with the largest budget allocation.
"We have agreed on the budget allocation for the Defense Ministry. It is the largest amount in the past 12 years," said Hanafi Rais, the deputy chairman of House Commission I overseeing defense and foreign affairs.
He said the defense budget would be spent proportionally on routine expenditure and goods. Hanafi, however, refused to give details of the allocation.
Previously, the Defense Ministry proposed Rp 104 trillion for the 2017 budget, which was later rejected by House members who said that amount did not match the government's commitment to maintaining state defense.
The House Commission I said state defense and sovereignty must not be compromised.