Tifatul Sembiring's proposal for next year's Communication and Information Ministry budget shocked House of Representatives (DPR) members. Nearly a quarter of the Rp638 billion he requested would fund the procurement of 500,000 set-top boxes for digital television broadcast receivers.

"We have not even approved the government-proposed regulation concerning digital TV, yet, out of the blue, they submitted this budget (for approval)," Evita Nursanty,