Cabinet Session: Prabowo Addresses Criticism and Cost-Saving Measures
President Prabowo Subianto held a full cabinet session at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Friday, 13 March 2026. All members of the Merah Putih Cabinet, including ministers, deputy ministers, heads of agencies, and presidential special advisors, attended the large meeting.
The session began with a presentation of a video containing government achievements. Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya then opened the session with the video screening, which featured clips of various projects claimed as government accomplishments. One segment showed bridge construction work across Indonesia, with footage of military and police personnel involved in executing these projects.
After the video presentation, Prabowo opened the cabinet session. He noted that the full cabinet session would address preparations for Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijriah. “We have now entered the 23rd day of this holy month of Ramadan, and in seven days we will celebrate Eid al-Fitr,” Prabowo said to his ministers. Beyond Eid preparations, Prabowo addressed various other issues during the session.
Prabowo Reveals Intelligence Reports on Government Critics
President Prabowo Subianto stated that he regularly receives intelligence reports regarding observers critical of his administration. Prabowo claimed that these critics were funded by parties opposed to his government. He said he receives intelligence briefings daily since becoming president. “When I was outside government, now I am the president. So I receive intelligence reports every day,” he said during the Merah Putih Cabinet meeting at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Friday, 13 March 2026.
Based on the intelligence information, Prabowo claimed to know who funds the government’s critics. “So I understand, I already know who finances them,” said the Gerindra Party chairman. According to Prabowo, he is currently attempting to address the parties funding these observers through persuasive means and by convincing them of his government’s legitimacy.
Prabowo expressed bewilderment at observers who constantly malign the government. “So in my view, some observers are motivated to cause public anxiety. I also do not understand their thinking because we are one nation,” he said. Prabowo likened Indonesia to one large ship. If the ship tilts, all its passengers are affected. He argued that all parties should unite and be cohesive in salvaging this large ship, particularly after the competition of the general elections has ended.
President Prabowo repeatedly accused his critics of gaining financial benefit from evaluating the government. On 12 January 2026, for example, Prabowo claimed there were a handful of people who frequently mocked him and spread negative views about his administration. He suspected these individuals were being paid by foreign powers.
Threatens to Discipline Critical Observers
President Prabowo not only expressed anger at observers criticising him during the cabinet session at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on 13 March 2026, but also threatened to take disciplinary action against observers he considered unpatriotic. The Gerindra Party chairman accused several observers of lacking patriotic sentiments. He claimed they gained financial benefit from criticising the government.
Prabowo said there were several types of observers in Indonesia. One type, he said, were observers who did not wish for his government to succeed because they had hidden motives. “In my view, their attitude is narrow-minded, not patriotic,” Prabowo said during the full cabinet meeting. Prabowo speculated about the motivations of these critics. According to him, they could feel defeated, lack power, or have lost sources of income because his administration, which he claimed was strict on corruption, had cut off their funding. “Especially thieves and corrupt individuals, they feel harmed by our government. We want to discipline them,” he said.
Proposes Salary Cuts for Ministers and Parliament to Achieve Savings amid War Concerns
President Prabowo Subianto wishes to implement cost-saving measures to address potential crises resulting from a conflict between the United States and Israel against Iran. He cited examples of other countries that have already implemented savings through salary cuts for officials.
He stated that Pakistan is practising austerity because it views the Middle East crisis as equivalent to the Covid-19 pandemic. “They even reduced salaries for cabinet members, for parliament members, and all these salary savings are collected to assist the most vulnerable groups,” Prabowo said during the cabinet session at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Friday, 13 March 2026.
Pakistan, according to Prabowo, has also implemented a work-from-home policy for civil servants and private sector employees. For the purpose of savings, Prabowo said, the South Asian nation has also reduced working days. Additionally, Prabowo noted that Pakistan has required government agencies to reduce the use of official vehicles by 60 percent. Prabowo noted that other countries have suspended foreign travel in the interest of savings.
“They reduced and did not allow government funds to be used for ceremonial events and the like. Then all their higher education institutions moved to online, all schools stopped for two weeks,” Prabowo said. According to Prabowo, these various policies can reduce oil consumption, the price and supply of which have been volatile due to the Middle East conflict. The Gerindra Party chairman also hopes Indonesia can take similar cost-saving steps.
Like Pakistan, Prabowo said Indonesia also needs to take steps to save on fuel oil. However, he stated that the government is currently reviewing the policies it will adopt. “I think we also need to strive to implement savings,” said the former defence minister. Prabowo said he will study the steps the government can take in the coming days.