REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Indonesian government plans to set up a cyber body to strengthen the defense sector and non-defense strategic sector as part of efforts to strengthen national sovereignty, a senior minister said.

"The cyber system will not spy on our citizens," Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said on Sunday.

He said the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs would team up with various government information institutions including the State Code Institution, the Communication and Informatics Ministry and deputies for cyber affairs at ministries and government institutions.

"We will also cooperate with Indonesian information technology experts. Therefore, the government's tasks in the information technology field can be carried out in a more integrated and harmonious way," he said.

"We are also aware that each government institution and state company has cyber security system," he said.

The cyber security system will be maintained at each of the institutions, yet the integrated cyber body is needed to serve wider interests, he said.

He denied an allegation that Indonesia is cooperating with the United States in developing a cyber security system.

"The development of the national cyber security system is aimed at thwarting foreign hackers who can weaken the nation," he said.

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