Parliament Begins Cost-Cutting Measures, Turning Off Room Lights at 8 PM
Indonesia’s House of Representatives (DPR RI) is reportedly beginning to implement cost-saving measures following plans for efficiency in the 2026 state budget, including discussions on salary cuts for DPR members and cabinet ministers and deputy ministers.
DPR General Secretary Indra Iskandar stated that savings are being applied to various budget items, from official travel to electricity usage within the parliamentary complex.
“Last week, we discussed various aspects related to savings and future working patterns,” Indra said when contacted on Thursday (26/3).
Indra explained that the DPR Secretariat is now reducing official travel for civil servants within the DPR environment, except for urgent duties.
On the other hand, Indra said they are also cutting electricity usage in the parliamentary complex. In the future, all meeting room lights will be turned off at 8:00 PM WIB.
“Every day, if there are no plenary session activities, we will turn off all lights by 8 PM at the latest, in the evenings,” he said.
In addition, Indra said they will reduce the use of internal vehicles to curb fuel consumption. He noted that the savings scheme is being prepared.
“In the future, we are still conducting exercises and I cannot yet provide details; we are working on reductions in fuel use for activities,” he said.
During a cabinet meeting at the State Palace in Jakarta on Friday (13/3), Prabowo mentioned salary reductions for cabinet members and parliamentarians amid global uncertainties.
Prabowo also urged all parties to save on fuel usage. He said this is also being done in Pakistan, including implementing work-from-home arrangements.
“They even reduce salaries for cabinet members and DPR members,” he said.
Cabinet Secretary Prasetyo Hadi stated that the government is examining in depth the idea of salary cuts for ministers or cabinet members and DPR.
On one hand, Pras said Indonesia’s national fuel reserves are relatively secure. However, he emphasised that all parties must use this event as a momentum for savings.
“It will start from government elements, ministries, institutions; there are many things that can be done to reduce fuel consumption, for example, migrating to public transport, reducing or limiting the use of official vehicles, red plate ones. So like that, we are finalising it,” he said at the Ministry of Defence in Jakarta on Tuesday (17/3).