Untad Chancellor Values Presidential Instruction 1/2025 Is Not An Efficiency Step But The Basis For Budget Cuts

JAKARTA - The Chancellor of Tadulako University (Untad), Prof. Amar assessed that the efficiency policy instructed by the President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto through Presidential Instruction Number 1 of 2025 was only used as an instrument to cut the budget at State Universities (PTN) which could harm campus operational continuity. This happens because in practice, there are several components that should not be affected by efficiency, instead a budget cut is carried out with a significant value.

"In the presidential instruction number 1 of 2025, there are several components that will not actually be cut. Including PNBP (Non-Tax State Revenue) and SBSN (State Sharia Securities), they should not be cut. But the funny thing is that we suddenly heard it was cut. So actually this efficiency is cutting the budget," Amar said during a Hearing Meeting between the Indonesian Chancellor's Council and Commission X of the DPR RI, in Jakarta, recently.

Amar explained, when the budget for State Universities (PTN) was cut by 50 percent. Then the operational budget of 83 percent to 84 percent also cannot be used. BLU funds including from Single Lecture Money (UKT) of 44 percent also cannot be used.

"Meanwhile, as in polytechnic, his party also received a budget that was initially cut by Rp. 100 billion to 60 percent. What do you want the building to be? In fact, the Presidential Instruction clearly states that there is no deduction for the post," he said again.

He requested that there be relaxation of the budget and adjustment of it, especially in terms of funding that is not in accordance with the real needs of each institution.

"We at Tadulako University ourselves, post-disaster 2018, are still operating in temporary offices and have not used the actual rectorate. This is a reality that we are facing. The budget cuts are very unfair, because they do not take into account the specific conditions of each college," said Prof. Amar.

Amar explained that higher education is a long-term investment and its sustainability must be maintained towards Indonesia Gold. Therefore, he emphasized that even though KIP is not cut, with a limited operational budget, education will be difficult to develop.

"If we can't meet campus operational needs, how will students get to college well? We from Untad really need a more realistic budget, especially post-disaster which still leaves a lot of flaws. Last year alone we had to cover a salary shortage of Rp11 billion, this year with additional CPNS and P3K, we lacked up to Rp43 billion. We want a solution, and hope this policy is reconsidered," he asked.

Prof. Amar also hopes that this budget cuts policy will not continue without considering the specific conditions of each campus. He also asked that there be more attention to universities that are struggling to recover post-disasterly.

"Hopefully this will be our common concern for the benefit of higher education in Indonesia," he concluded.