Nani Afrida, Jakarta – Amid heightened tension in the South China Sea and military build up in the region, Defense Ministry officials will concentrate on domestic issues that have little impact on the expansion of the country's military prowess.
Deputy Defense Minister Lt. Gen. (ret) Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday that this year, the ministry would focus on passing several laws and regulations on domestic security.
"We will concentrate on passing bills that had been delayed with the House of Representatives. We need to focus on this now because next year we will be busy with the general election," Sjafrie said on the sidelines of an executive meeting to discuss this year's strategy at the Defense Ministry headquarters.
Indonesia is slated to hold legislative and presidential elections in 2014. "During the elections, we don't want to be bothered by unfinished regulations and laws," said Sjafrie.
According to Sjafrie, the bills include those on state secrecy, national security and civil defense. "We know that some people consider the national security bill controversial, but we will find the solution," he said, adding that the bill would be a priority in 2013.
He argued that Indonesia would need such a law to maintain security. "It's urgently needed," he said.
The national security bill has raised controversy over the involvement of the military in managing the country's security – a similar authority granted during the authoritarian rule of Soeharto. After the fall of the Soeharto regime in 1998, the police were given the sole authority to manage the country's security.
Among the bill's contentious issues is a clause that stipulates that the Indonesian Military (TNI), the National Police, the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) and the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) would have the authority to intercept communications, arrest and interrogate suspects as well as "other necessary measures".
The State secrecy bill has also ignited protests as it could jeopardize transparency and freedom of the press. Human rights activists are concerned that such bills will function as leeway for the return of an authoritarian regime.
Aside from the bills, Sjafrie also said the ministry would issue 38 Defense Ministry regulations. However, he did not specify its content.
The plan to focus on domestic issues developed amid tension between Asia powerhouse China with Indonesia's ASEAN partners over territorial disputes in the South China Sea and concerns over the US's deeper engagement in the region to counter China's domination.
Anticipating a fallout from the tension, the ministry will speed up the procurement of war equipment. "Speeding up our military buildup is possible as we have a sufficient budget to purchase the equipment needed," Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said.
The ministry has received an Rp 81.8 trillion (US$8.5 billion) budget this year, an increase from Rp 72.5 trillion in 2012. The majority of the budget will be used to finance the procurement and upgrade of military equipment.
Purnomo said that the ministry would speed up the procurement by shortening the strategic planning process.
"We are cutting down the process to just two steps. This will speed things up," said Purnomo. "We believe that by going through just two strategic planning steps, Indonesia will meet its target of attaining the minimum essential force (MEF) by 2019, instead of the original plan of 2024," he said.
Among the landmark procurements this year, according to the ministry, is the purchase of 8 Apache helicopters from the United States. "The US congress has agreed to this, and we are now in the negotiation process," Sjafrie said.