TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Head of the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) Rear Admiral Irvansyah said that the agency's budget has long been far from ideal for carrying out maritime surveillance functions. According to him, the efficiency policy of President Prabowo Subianto in 2025 has further burdened the agency.
"Presidential Regulation No. 1 of 2025 has caused a decrease in Bakamla's budget for maritime security and surveillance," said Irvansyah during a meeting with Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives at the Parliament Complex in Senayan on Monday, March 3, 2025.
Prior to the efficiency measures, Irvansyah said Bakamla's budget was already very limited. He mentioned that the available budget could only fulfill 10 percent of the requirements to become an ideal sea coast guard.
"The 2024 budget accommodated only 10 percent of our ideal budget, resulting in limited resources for Bakamla," he said.
Irvansyah stated that currently, Bakamla personnel numbered only around 1,300 people, spread across personnel in the central office, regions, and those patrolling at sea with ships.
Meanwhile, in terms of equipment completeness, Bakamla currently only has 1 ship measuring 110 meters, 3 ships measuring 80 meters, 3 ships measuring 48 meters, and dozens of small boats. "Not yet ideal to become a coast guard," he said.
Irvansyah said there needs to be a more comprehensive regulation on maritime security in Indonesia. He hopes that the government, together with the House of Representatives, can soon issue the Draft Law on Maritime Security that has long been discussed.
In addition to strengthening the capacity of Bakamla, the Maritime Security Bill is also considered to be able to avoid overlapping in aspects of maritime security. Previously, Member of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives Okta Kumala Dewi said that there are at least 13 government institutions with authority over maritime security regulations. She believes that the Maritime Security Bill can be a solution to this problem.
"I think the Maritime Security Bill is indeed one of the solution steps to this problem of overlapping authority," Okta said in a written message to Tempo on Friday, February 14, 2025.
This politician from the National Mandate Party said that the great potential of Indonesian waters has not been accompanied by adequate maritime security capacity. She highlighted the lack of resources, both in the form of equipment, personnel, and budget for maritime security.
On the other hand, she said, maritime threats are also becoming more complex. In addition to territorial sovereignty issues, she stated that the potential for smuggling illegal goods, terrorism, and climate change are also challenges.
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