JAKARTA - Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said that the procurement of the Minimum Essential Force (MEF) in defence equipment modernisation needs to be improved.
“Defence equipment procurement is a long process, and I believe the Ministry of Defence and the Commander [of the National Armed Forces] need to sit together [and discuss] how to improve efficiency and assurance,” said Ms Indrawati at the Ministry of Defence Leadership Meeting on Thursday (23/1).
“Otherwise, while we are arranging the State Budget to support defence equipment procurement the long process will have many consequences regarding the timeliness and appropriateness of the procurement itself.”
Relevant defence equipment procurement, Ms Indrawati added, is essential because as Indonesia develops further the need for defence and security to preserve its sovereignty also grows.
“It has consequences regarding how we design our national defence and security, because as Indonesia develops further more parties have interests in the Republic,” concluded Ms Indrawati. (MS)