Security Minister Urges To Increase Budget Allocation For Counterterrorism Squad

Jakarta (Antara Bali)- Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan has sought the Parliament's support to increase budget allocation for the counterterrorism squad, Special Detachment (Densus) 88.

"Concerning Densus 88, I am sad. Despite having a big name, its facilities are poor. We need support for the selection of personnel and additional facilities and infrastructure, as well as an increase in the budget set aside for Densus 88," Pandjaitan noted during a joint hearing with the Commission I and Commission III of the House of Representatives (DPR) at the Parliament Building, here, Monday.

Attorney General Prasetyo, National Police Chief General Badrodin Haiti, Chief of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) Sutiyoso, and Head of the Counterterrorism National Agency (BNPT) Inspector General Saud Usman attended the hearing held to discuss terrorism issues.

"We will never negotiate with terrorists. We will never give them an opportunity for consolidation," Pandjaitan affirmed.

He also sought support from the Parliament to expedite the revision of the law on terrorism.

"The essence is to give us the authority to implement preemptive measures, so that we can make preventive arrests," he added. (WDY)