Budget Efficiency that Tightens Employee Belts

Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Bima Arya Sugiarto shared his journey from his residence in Bogor to his office on Jalan Merdeka Utara, Jakarta, on Wednesday (February 5, 2025). Instead of using an official car with an escort, this time he took the commuter train.

The journey from home to the station was taken by an online taxi. Using the electric commuter train that departs at 6:28 from Bogor, Bima arrived at Juanda Station, Jakarta, and continued walking to the Ministry of Home Affairs office. Bima noted that the travel time was approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes, and the costs incurred were Rp 6,000 for the commuter train and Rp 31,500 for the online taxi in this travel test.

In less than 24 hours, more than 16,600 likes were obtained. The public's response was also lively.

Many have expressed their appreciation. Many also remind that this should not be done just once for the sake of social media content. As the account @trilionotesaham wrote, "If it's like this, it must be consistent, Sir. Don't just try it once. If necessary, don't make it content. Let the people be the paparazzi and witness if you start consistently using public transportation."

Many have also suggested that he return home using the commuter train. It is no secret that during rush hour, the commuter train from Jakarta to Bogor feels more crowded, especially since the passengers' bodies are already tired. "Just the content of the commute home, Sir, after 4:00 PM," wrote the account @dhikarys.

Responding to the reactions of several netizens, Bima Arya, when contacted on Friday morning (February 7, 2024), stated that as long as his time and routine schedule as an assistant to the President allow him to use mass transportation, he will prioritize it instead of using official vehicles or private cars.

The hope that other officials will follow this step has been frequently expressed by netizens. They also hope that by experiencing public transportation, government policies can improve and better meet the needs.

Not only Bima Arya, but the Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan was also seen trying to use the MRT. However, in the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet, there is already a minister who consistently uses public transportation.

Muhadjir Effendy, who once served as Minister of Education and Culture and during the second term of President Joko Widodo served as Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, was often seen riding the MRT and even the Transjakarta bus. For his daily transportation, he does not use a luxury car like most officials but a Toyota Innova.

When he was still a minister, Muhadjir only had to walk from his official residence in the Widya Chandra area, Jakarta to the front of the Jakarta Police Headquarters to take the MRT. He then got off at the Bundaran HI MRT stop and continued walking to the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture office.

"It's almost every day. On Fridays, I ride a bike, then continue exercising with ASN in the office. To stay healthy," he told Kompas, Thursday (6/2/2025).

If you are in a hurry, the Transjakarta bus can be an option. From the stop on Jalan MT Haryono, he can get off directly in front of his office on Jalan Merdeka Barat.

However, Muhadjir often hesitates when someone recognizes him on public transportation. "If they already know him well, they even ask to take pictures, especially my former students who are now in Jakarta and also happen to be MRT fans," he said with a chuckle.

When no one knows him, Muhadjir enjoys the freedom of being an ordinary person. "I want to gather with other (residents). If you don't often be with the community, like that song back then, you can be lonely in the middle of a crowd," he added.

Now, Muhadjir is the President's special advisor for hajj affairs. From his private residence in Pondok Labu to his temporary office in Kebon Sirih, sometimes Muhadjir takes the MRT from Fatmawati Station to Bundaran HI and continues on foot and other times uses his Toyota Innova vehicle.

The budget cuts initiated by President Prabowo Subianto through Presidential Instruction (Inpres) Number 1 of 2025 have indeed made all ministries/institutions need to tighten their belts. There are officials who are starting to tighten their belts. However, there are also those who are tightening the belts of their employees or state civil apparatus (ASN) instead of reducing the facilities and allowances of officials.

An employee of a government-owned broadcasting institution also said that the employee transport bus at his place last operated yesterday. After that, employees had to find other alternatives.

This will certainly be a new problem, starting from additional transportation costs to increasing the burden of public transportation density. If employees choose to use private vehicles, new problems will arise starting from increasing traffic density to inadequate parking spaces in ministry/institution offices.

An employee bus used by 30 people will be more effective than a luxury official car used by only one person.

In fact, President Prabowo Subianto only instructed budget cuts in expenditures such as office stationery, ceremonial activities, meetings and seminars, studies and analysis, training and technical guidance, honorariums for output activities and professional services, printing and souvenirs, rental of buildings, vehicles and equipment, application licenses, consulting services, government assistance, maintenance, official travel, equipment and machinery, and infrastructure.

Overall, budget savings are expected to reach IDR 306.69 trillion, consisting of the ministry/institution spending budget of IDR 256.1 trillion and transfers to regions of IDR 50.59 trillion. For this reason, all leaders of ministries/institutions must immediately identify spending efficiency plans in their respective institutions. These budget cuts must be completed and discussed with commission partners in the DPR by February 14, 2025.

At the Ministry of Investment and Downstream/BKPM, Minister Rosan Perkasa Roeslani said that his party had communicated the President's instructions. The Ministry of Investment and Downstream is also enthusiastic about implementing the instructions while still upholding a high work ethic. The targets that have been set will not change even though the budget is reduced.

According to him, budget efficiency requires the ministry to work innovatively. Tasks to attract investment can be done virtually. His party will also optimize the approach by inviting investors rather than visiting investors abroad.

"There are many ways to convince them. In my opinion, I am still confident that the planned target will be achieved," said Rosan.

He neither denied nor confirmed that the efficiency policy was often complained about by ASN. Rosan only invited the ranks of ASN in the ministry he led to work as hard as possible. "I said, with the existing (budget), we just work as hard as possible," he said.

The day before, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said that savings at the Ministry of Health were made, among others, on official travel items. Budi even planned to use economy class aircraft for official travel. He also asked echelon I officials to use economy class aircraft during official travel, not using business class aircraft as before there was budget efficiency.

"If the minister is in economy, it won't be good for the (others) in business class. Let's just use Citylink so it's cheaper," he said.

Public policy observer Agus Pambagio said that efficiency in ministries/institutions is absolutely necessary. The state's financial condition without significant investment and chaotic taxes require the government to economize.

However, savings should be done proportionally and not burden one group of ASN. "Don't just eliminate facilities for middle-class ASN, facilities for upper-class ASN must also be streamlined," he said.

For example, Agus continued, replacing luxury car facilities with simpler cars, such as replacing from a Toyota Camry to a Toyota Avanza. This is possible because generally official vehicles are rented. Fuel allowances for official cars should also be eliminated.

According to Agus, currently the implementation of budget efficiency has actually created injustice among different ASN groups. Middle-class ASNs bear the impact of efficiency more severely than the upper class. This will certainly trigger a decline in work enthusiasm, even though they play a crucial role in supporting work in their respective ministries/institutions.

Moreover, they will also lose some additional income considering that business trips are reduced, as are meetings outside the office. This means that the extra money they usually get will be lost. "For lower-middle class ASN, the extra is very important to survive," said Agus.

Contacted separately, a lecturer at the Faculty of Law, Trisakti University, Trubus Rahardiansah, said the same thing. According to him, budget efficiency should be carried out fairly at all levels. Savings should not only target lower-level employees because it can cause jealousy. Moreover, the facilities obtained by leaders are not reduced.

"If pick-up cars are abolished, official cars for leaders should also be stopped. Even if necessary, everyone should be required to use public transportation. Official cars are sufficient at the level of president, vice president, and ministers," said Trubus.

Furthermore, he continued, Prabowo's innovation can change the mindset of using the state budget. The budget can be made more efficient, considering that so far there has been a tendency for inflation in budget submissions. Thus, the gap for corruption can be reduced so that the budget can be optimized for the benefit of the people.