DPR Reprimands Minister Pigai for Sudden Budget Proposal During Meeting

The House of Representatives (DPR) Commission XIII has reprimanded Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai for proposing an additional budget in the middle of a meeting at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, on Wednesday (17/6). Commission XIII Chairman Willy Aditya questioned the decision, stating that such material should have been submitted prior to the meeting. “We had asked for good faith. Why was this only submitted during the meeting? How are we supposed to discuss it? The core proposal is good, we appreciate it. Don’t let one drop of indigo ruin a whole pot of milk,” Willy said during the session.

On that occasion, Pigai proposed an additional budget of Rp492.9 billion on top of the indicative ceiling of Rp728 billion for the Ministry of Human Rights in the 2027 Draft State Budget. Pigai explained that the proposed increase would be allocated as Rp224.9 billion for human rights enforcement and Rp267.9 billion for management support. “For this reason, we are requesting an additional Rp492,900,376,000 from the DPR,” Pigai stated.

In response, Willy indicated that the commission 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 advancement and enforcement of human rights, but we do not approve the management support. So that is the middle ground. Agreed? This is because of our commitment,” Willy said.

Meanwhile, Commission XIII member Rieke Diah Pitaloka of the PDIP faction criticised the composition of the proposed increase, noting that the majority was allocated for management support. Referring to Presidential Regulation No. 156 of 2024, Articles 5 and 6, she stressed that the ministry’s primary duties are to handle government affairs in the field of human rights through complaint services, advocacy, protection, victim recovery, and human rights compliance. Rieke expressed suspicion over the proposal’s composition, given that the Ministry of Human Rights under Pigai is still in a transitional phase. “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 advancement and enforcement of human rights,” she said.