Ensuring Accountability in Procurement of Defense Equipment
The modernization of defense and security equipment is an urgent matter. However, the procurement of the new weapons should be accountable and transparent.
By
NORBERTUS ARYA DWIANGGA MARTIAR/ DIAN DEWI PURNAMASARI/ RINI KUSTIASIH
·4 minutes read
JAKARTA, KOMPAS - The modernization of the country’s defense and security system has become an urgent matter for the government. However, the procurement of the defense and security equipment should involve all stakeholders and must be based on accountability and transparency.
The drafting of a Presidential Regulation (Perpres) concerning the addition and modernization of defense and security equipment for the Defense Ministry and the Armed Forces 2020-2024 shows government\'s great commitment to the defense sector. The required funds for the procurement of defense and security equipment until 2024 is estimated to reach US$ 124.994 billion or Rp 1.75 quadrillion.
However, the drafting of the Perpres has not involved stakeholders, both users and legislators. As of Sunday (30/5/2021), The Commission I of the House of Representatives (DPR) in charge of defense issues has not received a through explanation from Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto regarding the draft Perpres.
Effendi Simbolon, a member of the Commission I of the DPR from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), said that he would question the substance of the draft Perpres in detail during a hearing with Defense Minister Prabowo to be held on Monday (31/5) and Wednesday (2/6).
Effendi said he would also ask for an explanation on the technology to be used in the modernization of the primary weaponry system (alutsista), in addition to the main content of the draft Perpres. "We must have a standard, for example, that defense equipment should be able to be used for the next 25-30 years," he said.
The draft Perpres as received by Kompas consists a number of aspects including a strategic plan in the modernization of the defense and security system, their procurement and financing. It was also stated the Defense Ministry had arranged the need for defense and security equipment until 2044, and proposed for the procurement for the weapons equipment be carried out during 2020-2024.
This means that the procurement of defense equipment is accelerated from 25 years to only 2.5 years. According to the draft Perpres, the weapons system modernization would cost about Rp 1.75 quadrillion.
We must have a standard, for example, that defense equipment should be able to be used for the next 25-30 years.
Member of the Commission I from the NasDem Party faction, Muhammad Farhan, said the Defense Minister had to explain in detail the allocation of the Rp 1.75 quadrillion budget. In addition, the previously designed minimum essential force (MEF development program needs to be reviewed, he said.
Transparency
Separately, a member of the Civil Society Coalition for Security Sector Reform, Al Araf, said the Defense Ministry must explain the urgency in the acceleration of the defense equipment procurement schedule from 25 years to 2.5 years. "Will, in in the next 2.5 years, Indonesia be in a state of war, so that the procurement of the defense equipment must be accelerated to such a short period of time?" he said.
The Defense Ministry must also transparently disclose its defense equipment procurement plan to avoid suspicions from the public, Araf said. According to him, Director General of Defense Strategy Rodon Pedrason’s statement that the information related to the country’s budget for defense equipment was a state secret was misleading.
Law Number 14 of 2008 concerning the Openness of Public Information stipulates that state secrets are only related to strategies and tactics for defense operations. The budget must be opened to the public because it uses the taxes paid by the people or it could even be paid with foreign debts.
Researcher of Transparency International Indonesia, Alvin Nicola, added that the secrecy related to defense budgeting indicated the lack of transparency and accountability. The use of foreign debts in the procurement of weapons equipment also has the potential to burden state finances.
Earlier, Rodon said, Defense Minister Prabowo had outlined a major modernization in the country’s military including Army, Navy and Air Force. The use of foreign debts in financing the military equipment modernization will not burden the state finance because they will carry a low interest rate.