DPR: Don't Just Cut Salaries, Trim Government Programmes Too
The Chairman of Commission II of the DPR, Rifqinizamy Karsayuda, has proposed efficiency measures on several government programmes to respond to the uncertain geopolitical situation due to the war between the United States (US)-Israel and Iran.
Rifqinizamy made this statement while also responding to the government’s plan to cut salaries of DPR members up to ministers and deputy ministers in the cabinet.
Rifqi assessed that President Prabowo Subianto’s plan is a positive signal and a necessity that must be carried out at this time.
“Of course, not only salary cuts are needed, but also making effective and efficient a number of budgets that exist in the government,” said Rifqi when contacted on Tuesday (25/3).
The NasDem Party politician opined that the salary cut plan is a signal from the President for the public to start preparing to face the crisis. Because wars and conflicts between countries in West Asia cause uncertain economic conditions.
Therefore, said Rifqi, the government not only needs to carry out efficiency, but must also ensure that all budget allocations are used properly.
“Ensuring that the budget has clear outputs and outcomes for development activities. And because of that, according to my view, it is very positive,” he said.
According to him, if serious, the salary cut plan does not need to be done through a revision of the law. According to him, the government only needs to do it with a Presidential Regulation (Perpres) or a Minister of Finance Regulation.
However, the Chairman of the DPR Commission for political government warned that the efficiency plan should not slow down public services.
“The most important thing is that everything is managed well, transparently, accountably, and most importantly, efficiency must once again target the right positions,” he said.
In a cabinet meeting at the State Palace, Jakarta, on Friday (13/3), Prabowo mentioned salary reductions for cabinet members and parliament amid global uncertainty.
Prabowo also invited all parties to save on fuel use. He said that this has also been done by Pakistan at present, including the implementation of working from home.
“They even reduce salaries for cabinet members, for DPR members,” he said.
State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi said the government has begun to examine in depth the discourse on cutting ministers’ or cabinet members’ and DPR salaries.
On one hand, Pras said that from the side of Indonesia’s national fuel reserves, it tends to be safe. However, he said all parties must make this incident a momentum to carry out savings.
“Later it will start from government elements, ministries, institutions, there are many things that can be done to reduce fuel consumption, for example, how we migrate to public transport, how to reduce or limit the use of official vehicles, red plate ones. So like that, we are finalising it,” he said at the Ministry of Defence, Jakarta, on Tuesday (17/3).