Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – President-elect Prabowo Subianto is reportedly planning to add ministries to his cabinet following his inauguration on October 20, 2024. A circulating document titled "Description of Nomenclature of AKD Partners (Dewan Equipment)" indicates that there will be 46 ministries partnering with the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR).
Celios Director of Public Policy, Media Wahyudi Askar, estimated that half of Prabowo's cabinet term will be consumed by employee adjustments. The division of several ministries will need a lengthy reorganization process by the State Civil Apparatus Agency (BKN) to reassign civil servants.
"The mutation process from one ministry to another and filling vacant positions takes approximately 2 to 3 years. This leaves only two years for effective work, raising questions about what can be accomplished," he told Tempo on October 14, 2024.
In addition, the increased number of ministries will also lead to higher government expenditure. According to the Ministry of Finance, employee expenses in 2024 alone amounted to around Rp460.8 trillion, representing 18 percent of the total central government expenditure. Next year, salary and benefit expenses are projected to increase to Rp513.2 trillion, accounting for 19.1 percent of the total expenditure.
Furthermore, the technical operations and infrastructure facilities of the ministries will also expand. Existing ministries may be divided into two or three separate entities, requiring adjustments to official residences, vehicles, budget positions, and other resources.
The 2025 State Budget is estimated at Rp3,621.3 trillion. According to calculations by Prabowo's team, approximately 45 percent, or Rp1,353.2 trillion, of the total state revenues will be allocated to debt repayment and interest.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Finance has revealed that the expenses for ministries and institutions in 2025 will reach Rp1,160.1 trillion. If this budget proves insufficient, Askar suggests that reductions and efficiencies in specific sectors may be necessary. There is a concern that such measures could lead to trade-offs or sacrifices in certain budget items.
– Eka Yudha Saputra contributed to the writing of this article.
Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/1928709/prabowos-oversized-cabinet-raises-concerns-about-efficiency-cost