State Secretary Denies Cabinet Reshuffle or Minister Salary Cuts

The government is confronted with policy dilemmas, and there is no truly comfortable option. State Secretary or Mensesneg Prasetyo Hadi stated that there have been no discussions regarding a cabinet reshuffle or plans to cut salaries for ministers and DPR members. Mensesneg said President Prabowo Subianto has no plans for a cabinet reshuffle in the near future. “It hasn’t been discussed yet,” Prasetyo said at the Presidential Palace Complex in Jakarta on Wednesday (8/4). Nevertheless, he noted that evaluations of the performance of ministers in the Merah Putih Cabinet continue to be conducted. He explained that this is done routinely so that ministers work in accordance with their duties and government programme targets. “We always convey that if the question is whether there is an evaluation of the cabinet’s performance, of course it happens every time, every day, every moment,” the State Secretary clarified. He added that although evaluations are carried out, they do not have to be followed by a reshuffle. “It shouldn’t be interpreted that every evaluation will always lead to a replacement,” he stressed. State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi reaffirmed that there is no cabinet reshuffle at the palace today (28/1). State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi said the palace has not discussed the issue of cabinet reshuffle rumours, but rather the inauguration of the National Energy Council. Presidential Chief of Staff Muhammad Qodari stated that if a reshuffle of the Merah Putih Cabinet occurs, it would be a normal matter, as the position of Deputy Minister of Finance is currently vacant. State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi denied rumours of a cabinet reshuffle. According to him, the meaning of reshuffle circulating widely in the public is not accurate. Rumours of a cabinet reshuffle have resurfaced following reports that Budi Djiwandono, Deputy Chairman of Commission I of the DPR RI from the Gerindra Faction, is rumoured to have a chance of joining the executive ranks. Secretary General of the DPR RI Indra Iskandar denied rumours claiming a salary increase for DPR members up to Rp100 million. Previously, narratives circulated that DPR members’ salaries had increased, with an estimated average of Rp3 million per day for representatives.