Mahfud MD Ensures Communication Infrastructure Development Continues Smoothly

JAKARTA - Acting (Plt) Minister of Communication and Information (Plt Menkominfo) Mahfud MD ensures that the construction of communication infrastructure handled by the Ministry of Communication and Information (Kemenkominfo) continues to run smoothly unaffected by the alleged corruption case of Base Transceiver Station (BTS) 4G which is currently rolling.

"The process of building the 4G BTS project continues. Even other projects such as SATRIA satellites, then providing internet access to rural areas, the Palapa Ring Integration program and so on are also continued in accordance with the programs and budgets that have been provided," said Mahfud as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, May 23.

In particular, Mahfud emphasized to the ranks of the Director General at the Ministry of Communication and Information to be able to assist in investigating the misuse of funds in the construction of 4G BTS for 3T areas.

According to him, of the total funds budgeted to build BTS in the 2020-2021 budget year of IDR 10 trillion, it is known that only about a third of the funds spent to realize 4,200 BTS points in 3T areas are needed.

Mahfud claimed that he got this figure after consulting with many experts and experts regarding the cost of building the BTS tower.

Based on a report from the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP) which stated that the total state loss was around Rp. 8.1-8.2 trillion due to the alleged corruption case in the procurement of 4G BTS, Mahfud encouraged the Director General at the Ministry of Communication and Information to be able to help investigate the flow of funds.

"For the 4G BTS project which was allegedly misused, I asked for the money to be pursued. The Director General made efforts to keep the money being pursued," said Mahfud.

The hope is that while the flow of funds is investigated, the construction of 4G BTS in the 3T area can continue so that people will not be harmed and can still feel equitable telecommunication access.

Moreover, for the BTS 4G procurement program, according to Mahfud, the program has been running in the long term and is part of a national strategic policy for communication support.

"If it starts again, it will be difficult. So the 4G BTS project will and must be continued. The project started in 2006 and now in 2023 it means that it has been more than 16 years the project is running, that means (budget) has been issued a lot," said Mahfud.