Indonesia changes plans for National Cyber Agency

The Indonesian Government has changed its plans to build a National Cyber Agency, a government minister announced. In place, it is looking to make this part of a bigger existing agency.

"There is a moratorium on establishing new agencies and we are therefore seeking a body that has the ability, facilities and human resources capable of tackling cyber issues," said Yuddy Chrisnandi, Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Minister.

The government will tweak the functions and authorities of the National Resilience Institute to strengthen cyber coordination among agencies and tackle cybersecurity issues, with help from the Communication and Information Ministry.

“Cyber security has been world's major issue so that the government needs to protect information and digital data of its institutions and private sector,” the minister said. Heru Sutadi, Executive Director of Indonesia’s ICT institute highlighted the need for the government to appoint a leading institution, the Jakarta Globe reports.

“Any agency can lead the efforts as long they can focus working on this important issue and cooperate with other related agencies,” he said.

“The main point is we need one commander. Since the issue includes national security which can now equally be as dangerous as physical war, the highest commander should be the President, like in the United States,” he added.

When asked about the move, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Coordinating Minister of Political, Legal and Security Affairs denied this is happening, according to Antara News.

“No, no. I need to attend the meeting first.” Image from Minister Yuddy Chrisnandi's facebook page