Prabowo Highlights Regional Head with Rp 8 Billion Vehicle, Criticises Unproductive Regional Spending

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, has highlighted the use of budgets at the regional level, which he deems still unproductive and inefficient. He even alluded to the existence of regional heads whose official vehicles cost up to Rp 8 billion. “Many officials, in my view, are inefficient. You can see for yourselves. Let’s be open about it. There’s a district, eh, regional government that bought an official vehicle for the governor—how much? Rp 8 billion,” said Prabowo during a discussion with journalists at his residence in the Hambalang area, Bogor, quoted from a press release by the Indonesian Government Communication Agency (Bakom) on Thursday (19/3/2026). He also emphasised that the Maung he uses is a domestically produced official vehicle. “I am the President of Indonesia. I use a Maung vehicle made in Indonesia. Its price is Rp 700 million. Perhaps because it’s for the president, with bulletproof features, it might reach Rp 1 billion, but not up to Rp 8 billion. We will investigate everything for efficiency,” he asserted. On that occasion, Prabowo highlighted that many basic needs of the people remain unfulfilled, such as the construction of village bridges. “There are many costs that should be handled by districts and provinces but are not implemented. For example, the bridge earlier—village bridges, the people have to shout, the president has to intervene. Sorry, there is village funding—where has the money gone? Where is the regent? The governor’s funds? But okay, I take responsibility. So, we must be open, we must be fair,” stated Prabowo. Prabowo also stressed the importance of awareness and responsibility among regional heads in managing public budgets. He emphasised that budgets must truly be used for the people’s interests. “After that, working visits—working visits, that’s what we ask for. Awareness, sense of responsibility, right?” he continued. “Regents work for your people, governors work for your people—that’s what we demand,” added Prabowo.