M

strong>May 21, Online

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has decided to slash a staggering Rp 100 trillion (US$8.7 billion) from the operational budget of his ministries, a move that could trigger great uncertainty for several infrastructure projects, as the Public Works Ministry has been dealt the most drastic budget cut.

Yudhoyono issued on Tuesday a presidential instruction (Inpres), requiring 86 ministries and government institutions to tighten their belts on spending to keep the fiscal deficit in check.

Your comments:

Perhaps this soft-landing approach to the financial disarray that would have been found by the newly elected president relates to the actual financial holdings of Indonesia'€™s treasury.

By the way, what is subsidy spending and who receives the bulk of this expenditure?

If the ex-general rises through some sort of partnership machinations conducted by him with that ruthless zeal he is known for, look to see the Defense Ministry budget increase noticeably higher than the other ministries.

William