Prabowo Warns Against Large-Budget Projects with Minimal Public Benefit

President Prabowo Subianto has reminded the government not to undertake projects with large budgets but minimal benefits for the public. “There must be no projects that are big on budget but small on benefits. There must be no incentives without new jobs. There must be no investment without technology transfer. Every rupiah must have a purpose. Every policy must have a measure. Every official must be accountable,” Prabowo said during the government’s introductory statement on the 2027 State Budget Bill and its Financial Note at the Nusantara Building, Parliament Complex, Jakarta, Friday.

Prabowo called on all levels of government to continuously evaluate and maintain discipline in the use of state funds. “The government must serve the people, serve the nation, and provide solutions to the people’s difficulties. The government’s primary duty is to protect the entire nation from all threats, threats of danger, threats of poverty, threats of layoffs, and various other threats,” he said.

The President also highlighted the practices of budget mark-ups and corruption in the management of government finances. “The government at all levels must eliminate the practices of corruption, fraud, and mark-ups. A mark-up of more than 3 percent, in my opinion, is already fraud,” he stated.

He urged central and regional governments to increase efficiency in spending state funds by reducing expenditures deemed not optimally beneficial. “We must cut all inefficient spending. I am pleased that there is no longer a budget for ministry anniversaries. A ministry anniversary is enough with just cutting a tumpeng,” he said.

Prabowo also requested that regional governments not allocate budgets for large-scale celebrations and instead divert the funds to public service needs. “It is better to repair schools, improve hospitals, and increase teachers’ salaries rather than hold ceremonies. However, a centralised Independence Day ceremony is mandatory,” he said.

In his speech, Prabowo affirmed that his administration is striving to build an economy that is not only statistically large but also creates a sovereign, strong, and just nation that provides real benefits to the people. “I invite the House of Representatives, the Regional Representatives Council, all state institutions, regional governments, the business community, universities, workers, farmers, fishermen, health workers, teachers, and all Indonesian people to oversee this agenda together,” he said.