President Prabowo Affirms Mark Up Budget Is Corruption Must Be Eradicated

President Prabowo Subianto briefed high-ranking officials of the central government and local governments during the Musrenbangnas event at the Office of the Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas in Jakarta, Monday (30/12/2024). (ANTARA/HO-Bappenas RI)

JAKARTA - President Prabowo Subianto warned government officials at the central and regional levels to eradicate budget mark-up practices. Prabowo emphasized that the mark-up of the budget is part of a corruption crime (tipikor).

The head of state said that currently preventive measures have been implemented to prevent mark-ups, including digitalization programs in procurement such as e-catalog, e-government, and govtech.

For all apparatus, mark up culture, inflating (values) of goods, projects, and budgets is corruption. That is robbing people's money. If you make a project of Rp. 100 million, yes, Rp. 100 million. Make a house Rp. 100 million, yes, Rp. 100 million. Don't say Rp. 150 million," said the President at the National Development Planning Conference (Musrenbangnas) in Jakarta, Monday, December 30, confiscated by Antara.

The head of state continued, the mark-up on the value of the project and procurement caused the leakage of the state budget. Prabowo also ordered all parties, including executives in the government, legislature, and judiciary to work together to eradicate mark-up habits.

"We now want to carry out national development by reducing all forms of leaks, manipulations, and mark-ups, and this requires all parties, judicial, legislative, and apparatus," said the President.

Regarding the amount, the President said he would reveal the value of the budget leak on another occasion. If necessary, the President continued, he would reveal that in a cabinet meeting.

"If necessary at the cabinet meeting later, specifically maybe the regent, I will invite the governor specifically," said the President.

President Prabowo gave a briefing at the Musrenbangnas for the Implementation of the 2025-2029 RPJMN at the Office of the Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas, Jakarta, Monday, December 30.

The activity, which was held live and through a video conference connection, was attended by all high-ranking central government officials and regional heads throughout Indonesia.

At the event location, several state officials heard directly the President's directives, including Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, coordinating ministers, ministers, and deputy ministers of the Red and White Cabinet, heads of agencies and institutions, National Police Chief General Pol. Listyo Sigit Prabowo, TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto, Attorney General ST Burhanuddin, and Head of BIN M. Herindra.