Fulfillment Of The 2024 Renstra MEF Is Still Low, Jokowi Strives To Fulfill It According To The Budget

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated that he would encourage efforts to fulfill the Minimum Essential Force (MEF) of the 2024 Strategic Plan. However, he stressed that it must be adjusted to the existing budget.

"Yes, everything is adjusted to the budget we have. But indeed we want to try to fulfill it," Jokowi told the media crew at the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base (Lanud), Jakarta, Wednesday, March 8, which was confiscated by Antara.

This was conveyed by the President after directly observing the latest main weapon system (defense equipment), the C-130J-30 Indonesian Air Force aircraft Super Hercules A-1339 from Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto to TNI Commander Admiral Yudo Margono at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base.

The President said that Indonesia as a whole had purchased five units of Super Hercules aircraft. The unit handed over is the first unit.

"What we ordered was five. Earlier, the Minister of Defense said that today there was one, later June added one more, July added one more, October one, January next year added one. Five planes will come to our country," said Jokowi.

On the same occasion, the Minister of Defense emphasized that President Jokowi's administration shows the biggest support in history for the defense sector.

However, in recent years the government has prioritized handling COVID-19 so that it affects the defense budget.

"I see that Pak Jokowi's government support in history for defense is the largest. However, he has priority. Yesterday we experienced very dangerous COVID-19, so we prioritize him, we prioritize the safety of the people," said Prabowo.

In Presidential Regulation (PP) Number 18 of 2020 concerning the 2020-2024 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN), it is stated that the fulfillment of 100 percent MEF in 2024 is one of the indicators of the target to maintain national security stability.

However, the target was revised to 70 percent by the end of 2024 as part of Phase III of the 2019-2024 MEF.