REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Indonesian government will take extra efforts to reduce the country's current account deficit, which has the potential to reach 4.96 percent of the GDP this year, Chatib Basri said.

"The deficit may reach 4.96 percent of the GDP unless extra efforts are taken," the finance minister said at a working meeting with House Commission XI on the revised 2014 budget here on Monday.

He said the widening deficit could happen as tax revenue could be below the target because of the revision of economic growth and the drop in the prices of mining commodities.

The widening deficit has the potential to run against the rule of law due to the increasing energy subsidy, especially fuel oil subsidy and electricity, as a result of the rupiah depreciation, he said.