Prabowo criticises regional spending, alludes to Rp8 billion official vehicle

Jakarta (ANTARA) - President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto has highlighted the unproductive use of budgets at the regional level, while alluding to the purchase of an official vehicle for a regional head valued at a staggering Rp8 billion.

According to Prabowo, many basic needs of the community remain unfulfilled, such as the construction of village bridges, yet regional budgets are allocated to non-priority items.

“Many expenditures that should be carried out by districts and provinces are not implemented. For example, bridges, village bridges, the people have to shout, the president has to intervene. Sorry, there is village funding, where is the money? Where is the regent, the governor’s funds? But, alright, I’ll take responsibility. So, we must be open, we must be fair,” Prabowo stated during a question-and-answer session with journalists at his private residence in Hambalang, Bogor, which aired on Thursday.

The President said that the current pattern of regional spending is still inefficient, including in the use of budgets for officials’ facilities.

“Many officials, in my view, this is inefficient. You see it yourself. Let’s be open. There is a district, eh regional government, they buy a governor’s official vehicle for how much? Rp8 billion,” Prabowo said.

As a comparison, Prabowo emphasised that he uses a domestically produced official vehicle at a much lower price.

“I am the President of Indonesia. I use the Indonesian-made Maung vehicle. Its price is Rp700 million. Perhaps because it’s for the President, with bulletproofing, it might be Rp1 billion. But not up to Rp8 billion. We will investigate everything, efficiency,” the President said.

The Head of State also stressed the importance of awareness and responsibility among regional heads in managing public budgets, particularly to ensure they are truly used for the people’s interests.

“After that, working visits, working visits, that’s what we ask for. Awareness, sense of responsibility, right?” the President said.

Prabowo reminded that the primary duty of regional heads is to serve the community, not merely to spend the budget.

“Regents work for your people, governors work for your people, that’s what we ask,” Prabowo said.