State Secretary Sudi Silalahi on Tuesday slammed lawmakers for wrongly interpreting President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's statement about his salary and for starting the 'Coins for President' movement. Sudi said Yudhoyono was offended by the movement.

"We have explained numerous times that Pak SBY has never asked for a salary raise. In fact, he was trying to motivate the soldiers. He was offered a raise many times but he refused so let's not prolong the issue," Sudi was quoted as saying by news portal Detik.com on Tuesday.

As the president's assistant, Sudi said he was also offended by the movement.

"I am very offended," he said, adding that Yudhoyono also shared a similar sentiment. "Everybody is [offended]. How could he not? He has never complained [about his salary]. I think we all have feelings," Sudi said.

On Jan. 21, Yudhoyono said that he had not had a salary increase since he was sworn into office in 2004 as part of a speech addressed to soldiers.

"This is the seventh year in which the president's salary hasn't been increased," Yudhoyono said, inviting laughter among senior members of the Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police during a joint national leadership meeting.

Yudhoyono told the delegates that the government was committed to improving the welfare of security officials. "I want everyone to receive an increase that is deserving, accurate and fair," he told 500 delegates at the meeting.

Although it appears not to have been made as a complaint, the statement has sparked a mixed reaction – including the mischievous appearance of a "Coins for the President" collection box at the House of Representatives.