IPDN Professor Criticises Official Hedonism
A senior professor at the Institute of Domestic Governance (IPDN), Djohermansyah Djohan, has criticised the lavish lifestyles of public officials, describing them as hedonistic—a tendency to make pleasure and material enjoyment the primary goal of their positions.
According to Djohermansyah, officials’ extravagant lifestyles are evident in the facilities they demand from the state. Examples include an elaborate Ramadan break event hosted by the Sidoarjo Regency Government and the purchase of a gubernatorial official vehicle in North Kalimantan costing Rp 8.5 billion.
Djohermansyah stated that public office should not be used to pursue worldly pleasures. “Public office is fundamentally about serving and dedicating oneself to society, not fulfilling personal hobbies or officials’ jetset lifestyles,” he said in a written statement on Saturday, 14 March 2026.
Djohermansyah also noted that several government agencies have procured facilities such as billiard tables, karaoke sets, and other entertainment amenities. He argued that such facilities have no direct relevance to the task of serving the public.
These facilities, he said, reflect officials’ personal interests rather than institutional needs. “When public budgets are used to finance personal pleasure, there is a shift in the function of public office,” he stated.
Djohermansyah described the practice as feudal in nature. “It is an official’s style, like the concept of pangreh praja (ruler of the people) in the past. Yet today the concept should be pamong praja (servant of society),” he said.
Djohermansyah characterised the prevalence of wealthy officials as a phenomenon of “aji mumpung”—the tendency to exploit office for personal benefit whilst holding power. “When someone holds office and uses that power to fulfil personal interests, that is clearly a deviation from governance ethics,” he remarked.
This mentality, he argued, is dangerous because it erodes leaders’ social sensitivity to the public’s situation. “In the face of the public’s poor economic reality—with problems such as damaged roads, declining incomes, and economic pressure before major religious holidays—officials’ glamorous lifestyle actually widens the psychological distance between government and citizens,” he said.
Normatively, according to Djohermansyah, the state does have guidelines regarding official facilities, ranging from vehicles and housing to official clothing. These guidelines are typically established through operational standards with price limitations.
However, Djohermansyah argued that the main issue is not merely the existence of rules, but rather the application of propriety principles. He believes officials’ facilities should not differ significantly from the living standards of the communities they serve. “If the general public typically use mid-range vehicles, officials should not deviate too far from that standard,” he said.
Djohermansyah cited examples of developed nations, where public officials actually demonstrate simplicity in their daily lives. They use public transport, cycle, or maintain lifestyles not significantly different from the general population. According to Djohermansyah, simplicity is not merely a moral symbol but also a form of social empathy.
President Prabowo Subianto previously prohibited officials from hosting excessive Eid open houses. Open houses are a tradition frequently observed by Indonesians, including officials, during major religious celebrations.
Ahead of Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijriah, Prabowo asked officials to exercise restraint in hosting events. He stated that Indonesia currently needs to economise, beginning with its officials. “We must also set an example; open houses should not be overly extravagant,” Prabowo said at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Friday, 13 March 2026.
Prabowo reminded the public that many citizens remain affected by disasters. “Our brothers and sisters in disaster-affected areas, and we should set an example for the people in this situation,” said the Gerindra Party chairman.
Nevertheless, Prabowo stated that the prohibition on extravagance does not mean officials cannot host open houses. He noted that various events during religious holidays are still necessary to keep the economy moving. “But we should not completely shut down all events. If we do, our economy will not function either,” Prabowo said.