TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Deputy Head of the Defense Commission, TB Hasanuddin, said that the House of Representative has given the government three weeks to reevaluate the details of the defense satellite since the US$849 million price tag is deemed utterly expensive.
Hasanuddin said the government and the DPR will sit and discuss the budget for the satellite. "We need to look at some cheaper parts," he said Monday, August 29, 2016.
He added that the budget can be less than US$849 million. He believes that it can be US$650 million or less.
"The function, range, and needs were not clear. There was no detailed coordination with the armed force," he said.
He added that the commission has a team specifically monitoring the satellite provision. "The basic price is US$400 million. We might not need some of the add-ons. we hope it will not exceed US$650 million," he said.
AHMAD FAIZ