Ridwan Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Fri, 01/29/2010 1:23 PM
The House of Representatives has expressed its initial agreement to a plan to procure a special airplane for the President.
Chairman of the House's budget committee Harry Azhar Azis said Friday lawmakers grouped in the committee had deliberated the budget proposed by the government to buy the equivalent of the US President’s Air Force One airplane this fiscal year.
"The budget committee will discuss the ‘Air Force One’ procurement further with the minister of finance on Feb. 2. We deem it is high time for the President to have a special wide-bodied airplane for the sake of mobility and efficiency," Harry said.
The Finance Ministry has proposed Rp 200 billion (US$21.5 million) as a down payment on the plane.
Harry said the committee would summon the finance minister to get the total price of the plane, its maintenance expenses, and running costs for its special pilot and copilot crew.
Indonesian presidents have always leased a plane from state-owned Garuda Indonesia for domestic and overseas trips. The government has also provided a 50-seater RJ plane for the President. The aircraft is maintained by state airline Pelita Air Service.
No comments:
Post a Comment