JK on Proposal to Cut Ministers' Salaries: SOE and DPR Salaries Are Higher
Former 10th and 12th Vice President Jusuf Kalla highlighted the need to consider proportionality in budget efficiency policies and the proposal to cut ministers’ salaries.
This view was expressed by JK after attending Eid al-Fitr prayers at the Al Azhar Grand Mosque field on Saturday (22/3).
He assessed that the current salary level for ministers is relatively low compared to officials in other institutions.
“Ministers’ salary is only around Rp19 million. If it’s cut further, how much will they receive?” JK said in his statement.
The 12th Minister Coordinator for People’s Welfare Affairs compared ministers’ salaries with those of officials in State-Owned Enterprises (BUMNs) and DPR members, which are higher.
“Salaries in BUMNs are far higher than ministers’. DPR is also far higher. This is just for information,” he stated.
JK added that ministers do not receive allowances as often perceived by the public. There are only operational costs to support task implementation.
“There are no allowances. Only operational costs, that’s it,” he emphasised.
A proposal has emerged to cut state officials’ salaries, including ministers, as part of the government’s budget efficiency efforts.
Jusuf Kalla’s statement on this highlights the need to consider proportionality in such policies.
Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa on Thursday (19/3) will set the percentage of cuts to ministry and agency spending budgets directly as a step to efficiently use the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN) amid rising global economic uncertainties due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
In addition to efficiency at the programme level, the proposal to cut salaries of ministers and deputy ministers has also emerged as part of national budget savings. Purbaya expressed support for the proposal as a concrete step of solidarity by state officials in saving spending.
“I agree. Oh, that’s good. If that’s good,” the Finance Minister said in response to questions about the plan to cut salaries of officials at the ministerial level.