Govt introduces new bill to improve performance of National Security Council

Under a new bill, Indonesia hopes to introduce a range of reforms to its Security Council (Watannas) to improve coordination among various state institutions in facing various threats, Defense Minister Purnomo Yugisantoro says.

The government is seeking to improve efficiency in facing these threats, Yusgiantoro said.

"We want to empower the National Security Council," Purnomo said Thursday.

Currently Indonesia has several institutions that deal with security, such as the National Defense Institute (Lemhanas), the National Security Council and the National Police.

A move to reform the council and make it equal to various other security councils in other nations is related to, but goes beyond the national security law, Purnomo said.

"That is the next step [after the passing of the bill]," he said.

Purnomo added that the bill had already been forwarded to the House of Representatives for deliberation.