DPR Reprimands Minister Pigai for Proposing Rp492.9 Billion Budget Increase Mid-Meeting
The House of Representatives (DPR) Commission XIII has reprimanded Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai for suddenly proposing a budget increase in the middle of a meeting at the Parliament Complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Wednesday (17/6).
Commission XIII Chairman Willy Aditya questioned the decision, stating that such budget proposals should have been submitted before the meeting. “We had asked for good faith. Why was this only submitted during the meeting? How are we supposed to discuss it? The existing proposal is good, we appreciate it. Don’t let one drop of indigo spoil the whole pot of milk,” said the NasDem Party politician during the Commission XIII meeting with the Human Rights Minister and his staff yesterday.
On that occasion, Pigai had earlier proposed an additional budget of Rp492.9 billion on top of the indicative ceiling for the Ministry of Human Rights in the 2027 Draft State Budget, which stands at Rp728 billion. Pigai stated that the additional budget would be allocated for human rights enforcement, amounting to Rp224.9 billion, and management support, totalling Rp267.9 billion. “Therefore, we are proposing an addition to the DPR of Rp492,900,376,000,” Pigai said.
In response, Willy assessed that his party supports the ministry’s budget proposal, but only for the human rights enforcement component, not for management support. “We approve the additional programme for the promotion and enforcement of human rights, but we do not approve the management support portion. So that is the middle ground. Agreed? This is because of our commitment,” Willy stated.
During the same session, Commission XIII member from the PDIP faction, Rieke Diah Pitaloka, criticised the composition of the proposed budget increase, noting that the majority was allocated for management support. She argued that, according to Articles 5 and 6 of Presidential Regulation No. 156 of 2024, the primary duties of the Human Rights Ministry are to handle government affairs in the field of human rights through complaint services, advocacy, protection, victim recovery, and human rights compliance. Based on this, Rieke suspected that the composition of the proposal was due to the ministry currently being in a transitional phase under Pigai’s leadership. “Therefore, the composition of this proposal needs to be criticised because 54.4 percent, or Rp267.9 billion, is allocated once again for management support, while 45.6 percent, or Rp224.9 billion, is for the promotion and enforcement of human rights,” said the former actress.