Indonesia will soon see the establishment of its long-planned National Cyber Agency. The country is only waiting for President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to issue a presidential decree that will set the operation of the body, which is assigned to tackle cyber crimes in the country, in motion, a state official has said.

First Marshall Sigit Priyono, the assistant deputy 2/VII for the coordination of telecommunications and information at the Office of the Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister, said the process to establish the body was already complete, including the synchronization of regulations and coordination among cyber divisions within the government.

"Cybercrimes are multidimensional and so we are seeking the best option that can coordinate all aspects, including those bodies or departments that already have sufficient supporting infrastructure. Other matters related to the planning are already complete and now we are waiting for the presidential regulation," Sigit said on Friday.

Sigit added that the government had initially planned to open the agency in January.

The government delayed opening it up because of budget constraints, restrictions on creating a new organization and difficulties related to the recruitment of civil servants.

Previously, the coordinating political, legal and security affairs minister had planned to merge the cyber body with the National Encryption Agency (Lemsaneg), according to Sigit.

However, he said the government had other options, including the Defense Ministry's Information and Data Center.

Source:
courtesy of THE JAKARTA POST

by Marguerite Afra Sapiie

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