REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The House of Representatives (DPR's) Commission I has expressed support to the National Encryption Body (Lemsaneg) to get involved in the establishment of the national cyber agency.

"The Lemsaneg expressed its readiness to get involved in the establishment of the national cyber agency," Deputy chairman of the DPR's Commission I Asril Tanjung said here on Thursday.

According to Tanjung, the Commission I will support the Lemsaneg particularly in its budget as part of the effort to improve capabilities in cyber sector.

"The agency has utilized the local products in implementing the duties," Tanjung remarked.

In a hearing, the Lemsaneg pointed out its shortcomings to make analysis network system in some areas such as Batam, Nunukan, Papua, and Sentul.

According to the lawmaker, the agency required the budget support in the signal network system because Malaysia had a better network system at the border.

"We hope the construction of the network system should not be conducted by one contractor," he said.

Earlier, Coordinating Minister for Law, Security and Political Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan said forming a National Cyber Agency would become one of the main priorities of his office.

"We already have the embryo, therefore, we will give priority to the forming of a National Cyber Agency," Luhut told reporters after a meeting of ministers under his coordination here on Tuesday.

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

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

Luhut said he knew much about cyber defenses, adding that the issue has become a public debate and has been officially discussed several times.

The idea to form a National Cyber body was first raised by previous coordinating minister for law, security and political affairs Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno in early March 2015.

At that time, Tedjo said the government would form a national cyber body to protect all government institutions, including the president, from being illegally wire tapped.

Tedjo noted that there is a pressing need to establish the agency, in view of protecting state secrets, since government offices have often become targets of cyber criminals.

Edward Snowden, a former contractor of a U.S. intelligence agency, had said Australia and New Zealand illegally tapped telecommunications via the networks of Indonesia's largest cellular telecommunications operator.

In mid-June 2015, Tedjo said the government was preparing an academic manuscript on a plan to form the National Cyber Agency.

"Currently, we are preparing the manuscript and after that we will prepare a draft for a presidential decree," Tedjo said.

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