Govt sets aside Rp6.4 trillion for arms purchases

Antara News, Saturday, January 23, 2010 20:34 WIB

Yogyakarta (ANTARA News) - The government has earmarked Rp6.4 trillion from the 2010 defense budget totaling Rp42 trillion to purchase military hardware, Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said here on Saturday.

He said Indonesia had made an estimate on its arms conditions in the 2009-2004 five-yearly scheme which was part of its national middle term development plan, and for the purchase of new arms, the government had set aside Rp6.4 trillion.

The minister made the remarks after attending a graduate ceremony held at the Veteran National University Development (UPN). He said that the budget for the arms purchase would continue to be raised, even reaching Rp20 trillion.

Purnomo said that the defense budget was the second biggest in the 2010 state budget after the one allocated for the National Education Ministry, amounting to Rp55 trillion.

But about 50 to 60 percent of the budget would be used for employee expenditures as it covered budget for salaries of the defense ministry`s and the Defense Forces headquarters` personnel.

Besides, the budget is also used for goods and service procurement as well as for arms maintenance so that such a fund is not enough to build a complete armament for a big nation like Indonesia.