Bung Hatta Refused Travel Allowance: Return It to the State, It's the People's Money!

Amidst daily reports of corruption, where officials comfortably embezzle state funds while citizens struggle to survive, the story of Mohammad Hatta’s honesty serves as a powerful reminder. Indonesia’s first vice president was known for his simplicity and integrity.

This story originates from I Wangsa Widjaja, Bung Hatta’s long-time personal secretary, as recounted in his book ‘Mengenang Bung Hatta’. In 1970, long after his vice presidency, Bung Hatta was invited to Irian Jaya (now Papua), a place where he was once exiled during the Dutch colonial era.

Upon arrival, the Minister of Finance at the time, Sumarno, who had arranged the visit, handed Bung Hatta an envelope containing a travel allowance. Bung Hatta questioned what it was. When Sumarno explained it was travel money from the government, Bung Hatta refused. He insisted that all his travel expenses were already covered by the state and that he was simply grateful for the opportunity to visit the region. He firmly rejected the envelope, declaring, ‘No, that is the people’s money. I don’t want to accept it. Return it.’