Judges' Salaries Increase, Prabowo: Don't Be Envious

President Prabowo Subianto has asked those working in the executive and legislative branches of government not to feel envious about the salary increases for judges. Judges’ salaries and allowances have risen by up to 280 per cent during his administration. Prabowo stated that the salary increase for judges is one of his commitments. “One of our first steps is to raise our judges’ salaries by almost 300 per cent. I wanted 300 per cent, but the Finance Minister only agreed to 280 per cent. Alright,” said Prabowo during a speech at the Attorney General’s Office in Jakarta on Wednesday, 13 May 2026. The Gerindra Party Chairman also promised that salaries for court clerks and staff would increase. Prabowo reminded other branches of government not to be envious. “Other branches of government, don’t be envious of the judiciary,” he said. Prabowo stated that judges’ salaries were increased so that courts could become places where the people obtain justice. He also reminded all judges to be careful in making decisions, as their rulings would be judged by the people. Prabowo also shared that he had heard that judges’ salaries in Indonesia are now higher than in Malaysia. He got this story from the Chief Justice Sunarto. “Last week, the Chief Justice met me and told me that he had just attended a meeting of ASEAN Chief Justices. Then the Malaysian Chief Justice told the Indonesian Chief Justice, he said, ‘Your Honour, I salute Indonesia. For the first time, Indonesian judges’ salaries are above Malaysian judges’ salaries’,” said Prabowo. The former defence minister stated that even the salaries of junior judges in Indonesia are higher than those of junior judges in Malaysia. “The salary of the most junior judge in Indonesia is almost twice that of the most junior judge in Malaysia,” said Prabowo. Prabowo’s administration has raised judges’ salaries since 2025. The President once discussed this step during the Annual Session of the MPR at the DPR complex, Nusantara Building, Jakarta, on Friday, 15 August 2025. Prabowo increased judges’ salaries by up to 280 per cent from previous levels. “We have increased for some judges up to a 280 per cent increase. We are also not hesitant to dismantle major corruption cases,” he said at the time. He stated that the salary addition is one of the efforts to enforce law and justice. According to Prabowo, the salary increase for judges is an important factor in law enforcement. “We are working to enforce law and justice. One of the important things is that, in enforcing law and justice, judges’ salaries must be in good condition,” said the former defence minister.