REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The United Development Party (PPP) faction of the Parliament (DPR) has given its nod to increase the budget to Rp1.9 trillion for the counterterrorism squad, Special Detachment (Densus) 88.

"The PPP faction supports the allocation of additional budget to strengthen Densus 88," Arsul Sani, the faction's spokesman, said here, Wednesday.

The squad needs to be strengthened as terror threats are likely to diversify, he added.

"The budget is allocated for improving the facilities and infrastructure needed by Densus and also for the development of human resources, both physically and mentally," he stated.

Mental development encompasses the humanity factor in implementing their tasks, Sani, member of Commission III of the House of Representatives, noted.

He remarked that Densus 88 needs to change public perception that they always shoot and kill alleged terror suspects while combating terrorism.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan had sought the DPR's support to increase budget allocation for Densus 88.

"Concerning Densus 88, I am sad. Despite having a big name, its facilities are poor. We need support for the selection of personnel and additional facilities and infrastructure, as well as an increase in the budget set aside for Densus 88," Pandjaitan noted during a joint hearing with the Commission I and Commission III at the Parliament Building, here, Monday.

Attorney General Prasetyo, National Police Chief General Badrodin Haiti, Chief of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) Sutiyoso, and Head of the Counterterrorism National Agency (BNPT) Inspector General Saud Usman attended the hearing held to discuss terrorism issues.

"We will never negotiate with terrorists. We will never give them an opportunity for consolidation," Pandjaitan affirmed.

He also sought support from the DPR to expedite the revision of the law on terrorism.

"The essence is to give us the authority to implement preemptive measures, so that we can make preventive arrests," he added.

The government has sought the DPR's support in allocating additional funds for Densus 88.

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