APBN Efficiency of Minister's Salary Potentially Cut, Purbaya: It's Not a Problem

JAKARTA - Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa responded to the discourse on cutting the salaries of ministers and members of the Indonesian House of Representatives as part of efforts to increase government budget efficiency.

Meanwhile, this efficiency measure is carried out to keep the State Budget (APBN) deficit below 3 percent.

Purbaya said he did not know whether the policy would also apply to members of the Indonesian House of Representatives.

However, he emphasized that he did not mind if the salaries of ministers were cut, but the final decision on this matter was entirely in the hands of President Prabowo Subianto.

"If (cut salaries) the DPR I don't know. If the minister is okay, but later we will see what the president's policy is like," he told the media, Monday, April 6.

He even admitted that he did not mind if his salary as Minister of Finance was also cut. In a joking tone, Purbaya said he did not mind because he felt he had enough money.

"It's nothing (if the salary is cut), there's a lot of money. How much do you cut?" he said.

Furthermore, Purbaya estimates that the potential for cutting ministers' salaries could reach around 25 percent.

However, he emphasized that the figure was still a personal estimate and had never been discussed officially.

"I think 25 percent, maybe. Not yet, not yet (there has been no official talks). I guess about 25 percent," he said.

He also revealed that there had indeed been discussions regarding the plan, but, until now, there has been no final decision, because everything is still waiting for direction and policy from President Prabowo.

"There are such talks but the final decision is still not clear," he concluded.