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President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is on track to be flying on his own presidential plane as early as next year with the delivery of the aircraft last week.

In a hearing with House of Representatives Commission II, which oversees home affairs, on Tuesday, State Secretary Sudi Silalahi said the purchase of the plane went smoothly.

The government received the aircraft, a 737-800 series Boeing Business Jet, last week, he said. The next steps will involve outfitting the plane’s interior and installing a security system.

“Three days ago we received it, then we sent it to the team that works on it,” Sudi said.

Initial reports indicated the plane would be outfitted with a bedroom, bathroom and shower, as well as a dining area and conference room.

The government had allocated Rp 535 billion (about $58 million at the time) for the private plane, but it ended up costing only Rp 526 billion — a savings of Rp 9.3 billion — after negotiating the price of the deal with Boeing downward.

However, a lawmaker from the opposition Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Arif Wibowo, said the government should try to find additional savings.

The purchase was approved by Commission II last year despite criticism from activists and the public at large over the government’s spending.

News of the presidential plane emerged in the wake of the House’s controversial proposal to construct a new building at a cost of Rp 1.8 trillion. That project was eventually shelved.

In the case of the jet, however, the government has argued that the purchase will provide returns on the investment in the long run. The president now travels on a plane leased from state-owned flag carrier Garuda Indonesia at a cost of Rp 900 billion for a five-year period.