Prabowo Uncovers the Modus Operandi of 'Naughty' Bureaucrats Who Obstruct the People: All Ministers to Clamp Down

Jakarta, VIVA – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has ordered his ministers to crack down on ‘naughty’ bureaucrats who like to complicate and even extort the people. He emphasised that the government is aiming to create a favourable business climate. This was conveyed by Prabowo in his KEM-PPKF Macro Economic Framework and Fiscal Policy Principles (KEM-PPKF) for the 2027 RAPBN in the plenary meeting room of the DPR, Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, on Wednesday 20 May 2026.

The Head of State admitted embarrassment at the length of licensing processes in Indonesia, which can stretch to two years. By contrast, he said, licensing in Malaysia takes only two weeks.

‘If Malaysia can issue permits in two weeks, why do ours take two years? It’s embarrassing,’ Prabowo said.

Prabowo also disclosed a number of undesirable bureaucratic behaviours. One of them is crafting various initiatives to seek returns from businesspeople.

‘We must not have too many initiatives. Already the President’s orders, the minister’s orders, and below them they craft more. Process again. Ministerial regulations, technical regulations, recommendations, those kinds of tricks. Let me remind you. All ministers, discipline your bureaucracy downwards,’ Prabowo asserted.

The Head of State urged all levels of government to be vigilant of the conduct of bureaucrats in their respective institutions. With far longer work experience than ministers, naughty bureaucrats have various strategies to seek personal gain. One of them is requesting signatures after official hours or when superiors are tired.

‘A bureaucrat’s telltale sign is that they will ask for a signature at 5:30 pm. You’re tired, you are exhausted, and then they come asking for a signature,’ Prabowo said.