Parliamentary Member Urges Comprehensive Review of All Programmes to Anticipate Middle East Crisis Impact

Jakarta — A member of Commission II of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), Zulfikar Arse Sadikin, has affirmed his support for President Prabowo Subianto’s option to reduce salaries for cabinet members and DPR members as a precautionary measure against the impact of the global crisis.

Zulfikar added that not only official salaries should be reviewed, but also all programmes and policies financed by the state. “What is particularly interesting in a situation like this is that we must review everything. Not only state officials or DPR members, but everything. Not only salaries, but also programmes. Policies, programmes, and activities of ministries and institutions that are all funded by the state budget must all be reviewed in a situation like this,” Arse said in West Jakarta on Tuesday.

Arse emphasised that evaluation must be carried out evenly, not only regarding salaries but also regarding programmes and various activities using state funds, so that the use of the state budget becomes increasingly effective. “Yes, I agree, not only about salaries but everything, everything. So rationalisation and evaluation must be implemented to make the use of the state budget more effective,” he said.

Previously, President Prabowo Subianto encouraged measures to reduce fuel consumption and to consider work from home (WFH) policies as a precautionary step against the impact of the global crisis.

As a point of comparison, the President cited several austerity measures taken by other countries, such as Pakistan. That country has implemented measures deemed to be critical steps, including work from home for government and private sector employees of up to 50 per cent and reduction of working days to four days per week.

Additionally, the government of that country has also implemented savings by reducing the salaries of cabinet members and parliament members, cutting fuel consumption for government vehicles, restricting the use of official vehicles, and halting several government expenditures such as vehicle procurement, air conditioning, and office furniture.

The President stated that these various examples of such measures could serve as a basis for study for the government in determining the austerity policies needed.