Look on the comment section tone, that is real general public (real constituent) sentiment, not very very small minority of military fanboys we see in many forums and amateur Youtube channels.
If you want to win election, support local industry. Next President debate will likely bring this matter as well. Anyway, it is easy to send information to President candidate nowadays in this internet era.
It will be bad for publicity in Indonesia public if you choose to order 42 Rafale and 36 F 15 EX while you dont even give money for KF21/IFX program and pay for Indonesia financial contribution in yearly basis based on the deal.
The ball (and the blame) is in Prabowo hand
Do you support KF21/IFX program by using Defense budget where Defense Ministry has the highest budget so far compare to other ministries ? Indonesia needs to pay our financial obligation in our KF21/IFX cost share (20 %).
There is document already spread showing President support on KF21/IFX continuation. Finance Minister and Planning Minister (Bappenas) also shows support (shown on the document that many public has read), but Finance Minister said the payment should come from Defense Ministry budget as she said Defense Ministry has already had the highest budget compared to other Ministers budget, KF 21/IFX program is also part of Defense Minister program since SBY administration, so the ball and the blame is in Prabowo if Indonesia doesnt pay its financial contribution on the program after President decide to continue the program in March 2021.
Erick Tohir (SOE Minister) contribution
SOE Minister has already asked PMN for Indonesian Aerospace that can be used to strengthen the program since modernizing the production facility in N 219 and CN 235 means the production staff and workers will learn in automation production that is also used in KF21/IFX program. More over I see possible N 219 new version will use many composite materials that is also used in KF21/IFX program, something that is already stated by DI Director.
So possible new facility in composite production for N 219 program can also be used for KF21/IFX program. This is why some alluminium parts of several KF21/IFX prototypes are made in Bandung, Indonesia, using present production facility. There is a document I posted in KFX/IFX thread telling this fact.
I see the rational to prioritize N 219 and CN 235 program in term of production facility expansion and modernization because those planes have already in production stage and have already had another new orders (10 for N 219 and 10 for CN 235, for this thanks to Prabowo Subianto because the order come from Defense Minister), while KF21/IFX program still need some time to complete the development phase where the development center is in Korea for production and testing of the prototypes.
Despite so, strengthening N 219 and CN 235 program also means strengthening KF21/IFX program in both financially (retaining and expanding the engineers and production staff quantity) and technically (improving the production staff and workers expertise in automation production system and advanced composite material production- possible new composite production facility acquisition from PMN that can be used in both N 219 and KF21/IFX program).
KF21/IFX production hangar in Indonesian Aerospace
Older picture when the facility was still empty