Jakarta, Oct. 21 -- Indonesia is ready to disburse funds to produce locally made Pindad "Maung" vehicles for use by cabinet ministers and their deputies, Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa said on Tuesday.

The funding, however, depends on the readiness of state-owned defense firm PT Pindad to begin mass production. Previous budget allocations were returned after the company failed to meet production capacity.

"This year, the budget is prepared, but the production capacity isn't ready, so the funds were returned," Sadewa told reporters.

"We support the project. Once Pindad is ready, we'll release the funds," he said.

He added that the finance ministry would not interfere in the company's industrial operations, stating, "My job is to...