Criticizes Purchase Of Alutsista Using Debt, Chairman Of Commission I Of The House Of Representatives Surprised Muhaimin Iskandar To Be Inconsistent Since The Presidential Election

JAKARTA - Chairman of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Meutya Hafid, highlighted the criticism of Vice Presidential Candidate number 1, Muhaimin Iskandar or Cak Imin regarding the purchase of war equipment or defense equipment with debt. Meutya Heran, Cak Imin has become inconsistent since taking the 2024 presidential election. Because he is sure, Cak Imin understands the defense budget.

"I'm sure Cak Imin understands. Cak Imin has only served as chairman of the party for almost 10 years. He has also been a member of the DPR since 1999, once led by the DPR, he has been a minister," said Meutya Hafid to reporters, Wednesday, January 3.

Moreover, he continued, Cak Imin is currently the Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives Coordinator for People's Welfare (Kokesra) who also sits on Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives.

"So I'm sure he understands, especially since Cak Imin is also a member of Commission I in charge of politics and defense, including agreeing to the posture of the defense budget," he added.

Therefore, the Golkar politician considered that the criticism made by Muhaimin Iskandar regarding the purchase of defense equipment was indeed targeting Prabowo Subianto. Where Prabowo is now the Minister of Defense and presidential candidate number 2.

"I consider his statement not because he does not understand but has other intentions towards the Minister of Defense who is currently a presidential candidate. Cak Imin knows exactly that we need defense equipment," said the Deputy Chairperson of the TKN Prabowo-Gibran.

Meutya also considers the criticism as a form of inconsistent Cak Imin since participating in the 2024 presidential election. Because, according to him, Cak Imin understands the issue of defense.

"Maybe this is a form of Cak Imin's inconsistency since the presidential election, after his inconsistency with IKN. Maybe this is a political path that Cak Imin must take after carrying out changes in the 2024 presidential election. People can judge for themselves," he concluded.

Previously, the candidate for vice president number 1, Muhaimin Iskandar, admitted that he was surprised by the government's attitude in debting hundreds of trillions of rupiah only to buy war tools.

In fact, according to Cak Imin, currently Indonesia is not facing war conditions. This was revealed by Cak Imin while campaigning in Bandung Regency.

"We are not at war, why are we mostly in debt and buying war tools? It is better to debt to buy agricultural equipment," said Cak Imin, Wednesday, January 3.

The general chairman of the PKB is of the view that, in Indonesia, the need for procurement of defense equipment is no more important than food matters.

He gave an example, since the first time farmers in Indonesia had difficulty getting fertilizer at affordable prices. Not to mention the existence of the food mafia still dominates the trade administration sector.

These problems result in the government still relying on large amounts of food imports and overcoming the welfare of farmers.

"The problem is omission. There is no solution to the distribution, even though this country is strong, this country has the country's ability to have money. It has money," said Cak Imin.

The government, continued Cak Imin, should allocate a larger budget for food needs than war equipment.

"What does that mean? We reject war, which is important for the people to eat. Why do we owe it hundreds of trillions but not for something that is not actually needed? In fact, we need food," said Muhaimin Iskandar.