Camelia Pasandaran – Less than ten minutes after President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono appeared to ask the House of Representatives to abandon plans to build a controversial new building, two of his senior ministers moderated his comments.

Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Agung Laksono, who had a major role in drawing up the plans for the costly building, claimed Yudhoyono did not want construction of the tower abandoned altogether.

"It should be made simpler, or functional, according to the standards," the Golkar legislator said at the Presidential Palace His comments came directly after Yudhoyono called for unnecessary building construction plans to be canceled or delayed.

Agung said that building the office is the authority of each institution, but should consider whether it is proper or not, or whether it meets the standard of state building.

"State buildings are both government building or non government building like the House," Agung said. "it should be adjusted to the standard or make it simpler."

Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto said the president wanted the budget – currently estimated at Rp 1.13 trillion ($130 million) – for the proposal to be reviewed to see if it was "beyond normal or not."

"The president understands the need, but he wants it to be checked whether the width of the building is appropriate, whether the quality is too expensive."