Discussions on Ministers' Salary Cuts, JK: BUMN CEOs and DPR Salaries Are Far Higher

Former Vice President Jusuf Kalla has highlighted the discourse on cutting ministers’ salaries. He stated that the current salary for ministers is lower than that of directors of state-owned enterprises (BUMN). According to Kalla, the basic salary for ministers is only around Rp19 million per month, so a salary cut would make the comparison even greater. “If it’s cut again, the salary of BUMN directors will be far higher than that of ministers,” he said when met at the Al-Azhar Grand Mosque, South Jakarta, on Saturday (21/3/2026). “So if it’s cut again, how much will be left for ministers? The DPR’s is also far higher. That’s just for information,” he explained. When asked if the target for cuts should be ministers’ allowances instead, Kalla replied that ministers do not have allowances. “Ministers have no allowances. There are only operational costs,” he added. Previously, President Prabowo recently mentioned other countries that are starting to save amid the global crisis due to the Middle East war. For example, cutting officials’ salaries, saving on fuel, implementing work-from-home, and stopping non-urgent state spending. “They even reduce salaries for cabinet members, for DPR members. And all these salary savings are collected to help the most vulnerable, weak groups,” Prabowo said during the Cabinet Meeting at the Palace, Jakarta, on Friday (13/3/2026). “(That option) We are detailing the study,” said Minister Secretary of State (Mensesneg) Prasetyo Hadi after leading a coordination meeting at the Ministry of Defence, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday (17/3/2026). Prasetyo explained that the option is being studied for the nation’s resilience even though Indonesia has not yet entered a crisis period. So far, Indonesia’s fuel oil (BBM) stocks after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz are still relatively safe.