TEMPO.CO, Situbondo - President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo asserted that the purchase of AgustaWestland’s VVIP helicopter was unnecessary and not a priority.
“We have set the priorities. Based on the Presidential Instruction on budget cuts, I have instructed to avoid unnecessary purchases that would have no impacts on anything,” President Jokowi said after inspecting a military training in Sidoarjo, East Java, on Thursday, September 15, 2016.
President Jokowi added that several budget items to be cut were those related to official travels, meetings, and unnecessary goods procurements.
In relation to the VVIP chopper procurement, President Jokowi revealed that the government would review its urgency.
“The commitment [to buy the helicopter] can be postponed. It doesn’t mean that we can have it immediately after an order. It’s not like buying something from a shop. It could take three or four years. For instance, we can pay 30 percent this year. Such practice is very common,” he added.
President Jokowi explained that budget cuts would also apply to the defense sector.
ANTARA