Members of Parliament Value Proposal to Cut Salaries of Ministers and Legislators as Form of Leadership Example
JAKARTA — A member of Commission II of the House of Representatives, Ali Ahmad, views the proposal to cut the salaries of government officials such as ministers and parliamentary members as a form of moral exemplification.
The proposal, raised by President Prabowo Subianto, is seen by Ahmad as an effort to assist the public amid Middle Eastern conflict.
“When the people are asked to prepare for the impact of the economy, officials also need to demonstrate a readiness to make sacrifices,” Ali stated in his remarks on Tuesday (17 March 2026).
According to him, the proposal for savings through cutting government officials’ salaries needs to be expanded into a national fiscal discipline movement.
“In a situation like this, the savings initiative must be expanded into a national fiscal discipline movement, starting from ministerial spending efficiency, strengthening programme priorities, to controlling budget waste,” Ali said.
If implemented properly, cutting the salaries of ministers and House members will provide an example of leadership that sets a precedent.
Particularly given the impact of global economic turbulence that will affect micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and other productive sectors.
“The current global situation should become an opportunity to strengthen reforms in state budget management, enhance bureaucratic efficiency, prioritise programmes that truly benefit the people, and ensure every rupiah of the state budget provides maximum benefit for development,” Ali said.
One of the concerns is the conflict between Iran and Israel and the United States, which has escalated tensions in the Middle East.
Pakistan, according to Prabowo, has implemented various cost-saving policies, ranging from cutting ministerial salaries to restricting the use of official vehicles.
“They have even reduced salaries for cabinet members and House members,” Prabowo said during a Full Cabinet Session on Friday (13 March 2026).