Budget Efficiency Evaluation, Another Side of the "Little King" Resistance

The resistance from the bureaucracy to the instruction to streamline the budget was openly conveyed by President Prabowo Subianto during his speech at the XVIII Congress of Muslimat Nahdlatul Ulama in Surabaya, East Java, on Monday (10/2/2025). He mentioned the presence of "little kings" within the bureaucracy who oppose the instruction to streamline the budget.

New policies, especially those that appear suddenly, usually generate resistance. The government has several instruments that can be used to evaluate parties that do not comply with these policies. However, the government also needs to reassess the impact of these budget cuts, particularly those directly related to the basic needs of the public.

In the middle of his speech in front of thousands of Muslimat NU members, President Prabowo touched on his instruction for ministries/agencies and local governments to make the state budget more efficient. He emphasized that this instruction was made so that the government could realize programs directly related to the needs of the community, such as free nutritious meal programs and school construction.

However, not only explaining the instructions he issued at the end of last month, the President also revealed the existence of parties attempting to oppose his policy.

"There are those who oppose me. There are, within the bureaucracy, within the bureaucracy. They feel they are above the law, feel they have become little kings, they exist. I want to save money. That money is for the people," said President Prabowo.

It is no longer a secret that budget waste often occurs in government institutions from the central to regional levels. For instance, towards the end of last year, the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP) released the results of its oversight of the 2023 budget and found ineffective and inefficient budget spending amounting to Rp 141.33 trillion. This was only sourced from five sectors, namely food security, tourism competitiveness enhancement programs, MSME empowerment, stunting reduction, and poverty alleviation.

The desire to streamline the budget and redirect it to programs important for the community has been repeatedly expressed by President Prabowo, leading to the issuance of Presidential Instruction (Inpres) Number 1 of 2025 on Spending Efficiency in the implementation of the State Budget (APBN) and Regional Budget (APBD) for the Fiscal Year 2025. However, after its implementation, it has not entirely gone smoothly.

Several civil servants have complained about budget cuts that have resulted in the loss of several work facilities in their respective offices. In each institution, the implementation of these budget efficiencies varies. However, generally, it is more felt by lower to middle-level employees than by upper-level employees.

The programs of several institutions were threatened after the instruction was issued. The heads of institutions simultaneously shouted and begged the government to review the policy called budget efficiency. So did the community groups who could potentially become victims if the institution's programs were stopped as a result of budget efficiency.

For example, the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK). The budget was cut by Rp 85 billion from a ceiling of Rp 229 billion, making it difficult for LPSK to provide medical assistance for 4,700 crime victims, including victims of terrorist acts in the country so far. The victims also shouted for the government to review the policy. This is because they still need state assistance through LPSK to treat serious injuries to disabilities caused by terrorist acts.

Head of the Department of Politics and Social Change at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Arya Fernandes assessed that the budget efficiency policy has the potential to cause shocks, including among bureaucrats.

Because, the policy that came suddenly made them not have enough time to adapt. In fact, the policy requires them to make adjustments to a series of programs and the necessary budget.

"Moreover, the process of discussing the budget cuts was not formally discussed in the DPR first but was decided politically through the DPR leadership. That certainly created a policy shock at the bureaucratic level," said Arya when contacted, Wednesday (12/2/2025).

In the midst of the shock, according to Arya, it is natural that there is an impression of resistance that arises within the government. However, the government has complete instruments to evaluate if they do not follow the President's direction to save. Moreover, specifically for bureaucrats, they are subject to the ASN Law and must follow all policies made by the President.

However, Arya said, evaluation should not only be carried out on ASN who are resistant to budget cut policies. Determination of budget cut priorities also needs to be reviewed, especially in ministries that directly handle the basic needs of the community but whose budgets are diverted to finance the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program. This is because this is a policy that has only been implemented for the first time by the government.

Reflecting on the previous period, the government also conducted budget refocussing during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the practice was to delay the budget disbursement time. This is different from the current budget cutting policy which diverts the budget from one program to another without any prior socialization.

Met separately, Chairman of the Central Leadership Council of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Deddy Sitorus stated that the President should directly name people who are considered to have disobeyed him. If he only uses terms such as "little kings", what will arise are questions in the community and various speculations about who the party the President is referring to. In fact, the public needs to know what is happening within the government and its implications for them.

"In my opinion, the President should just mention it directly, without even mentioning people's names, but what the actions are, what the implications are, and he should convey that publicly," he said at the Parliament Complex, Jakarta.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chairman of the Golkar Party Ahmad Doli Kurnia admitted that the President's speeches have tended to be harsh lately. However, according to him, this was not a specific reprimand for the ministers from the member parties of the Advanced Indonesia Coalition (KIM). However, it was a warning to all his staff to work seriously.

"The last few speeches from the President were delivered relatively harshly. However, I see it as a reminder for his staff to work seriously for the people. If they do not work for the people, they will be swept aside and eliminated," he said.

Doli also claimed that both KIM members in the executive and legislative bodies are solid to date. There are no significant differences of opinion or differences in every decision-making.

However, he did not deny the emergence of the issue of a cabinet reshuffle in recent times.

"For the reshuffle, the President knows best, whether it is necessary or when it will be done. Then who wants to be swapped, in the end, the President, Mr. Prabowo himself, knows best," said Doli.