Sahroni Supports Salary Cuts for Ministers and Parliament Members for Budget Efficiency
JAKARTA — Ahmad Sahroni, treasurer general of the NasDem Party, has endorsed President Prabowo Subianto’s proposal for budget efficiency that includes cutting salaries for parliament members and ministers.
The government has multiple options for achieving budget efficiency, including reducing state spending across various expenditure categories. “I strongly support the President’s efforts to find solutions to continue improving the people’s welfare amid the current uncertain global financial conditions. There are indeed many options available, including state spending efficiency,” Sahroni said when contacted by Kompas.com on Monday (16 March 2026).
However, Sahroni, who serves as secretary of the NasDem fraction in parliament, cautioned that the proposal to reduce salaries for state officials, including ministers and parliament members, must be thoroughly examined to avoid negative consequences.
According to Sahroni, inefficiently designed austerity policies could have spillover effects. “If not thoroughly examined, salary cuts could trigger secondary effects, such as reduced performance or increased corruption risks,” he said. “Ultimately, however, we as parliament members share the same principle as the President: the people’s interests come first,” Sahroni concluded.
Previously, President Prabowo Subianto highlighted Pakistan’s approach to controlling government spending amid global tensions, including the conflict between Iran and Israel involving the United States. Prabowo cited Pakistan’s implementation of various cost-saving measures, ranging from ministerial salary cuts to restrictions on official vehicle usage.
He suggested that such policies could serve as an example for Indonesia to study, particularly given rising global oil prices. Prabowo made these remarks while chairing a Full Cabinet Session at the State Palace on Friday (13 March 2026).
During the meeting, the government discussed mitigation measures to address the impact of Middle Eastern conflicts driving up global energy prices. Prabowo specifically referenced Pakistan’s cost-saving policies, including salary reductions for senior state officials. “They even reduced salaries for cabinet members and parliament members,” Prabowo stated.
The funds saved through these measures would then be redirected to assist the most vulnerable populations.