Jakarta – The government plans to restructure the national intelligence system, the Jakarta Post reported, quoting defence Minister Muhammad Mahfud.

"I, along with Coordinating Minister for Political, Security and Social Welfare Affairs, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and State Intelligence Coordinating Agency (BAKIN) Chief Arie Kumaat, have been assigned by the president to restructure the system," Mahfud said.

The restructuring will include the introduction of a new agency, the State Intelligence Body (BIN), to replace the current BAKIN, he said. Unlike BAKIN, BIN will adopt an integrated system comprising various state intelligence bodies.

Mahfud said the defence ministry will also establish a new unit dealing with intelligence affairs to support intelligence and counter intelligence activities.

It will take the form of a directorate general and will have two directors. "The presidential decree on the new directorate general and the directors has been signed on December 21, 2000," he said.