Jakarta — Prabowo Subianto, the President-elect, stressed the importance of having incorruptible judges as a key to a corruption-free nation. He made this statement during a conversation with Deputy Speaker of the DPR, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, while meeting with the Indonesian Judges’ Solidarity group at the DPR building in Senayan, Jakarta, on Tuesday (October 8).
“Believe me, the key to a prosperous, well-functioning, corruption-free country is having judges who cannot be bought,” Prabowo declared.
“As a result, judges must possess strength, and their welfare must be of the highest quality that we can offer. This is my commitment,” he further stated.
In his capacity as Indonesia’s current Defense Minister, Prabowo reiterated the importance of enhancing the quality of life and ensuring the financial stability of judges.
“You can examine my past speeches and archives. I have consistently believed that judges’ living standards need to be elevated and safeguarded to uphold their independence and perform their duties to the utmost of their capabilities,” Prabowo emphasized.
Prabowo’s commitment to enhancing the remuneration of judges has been a fundamental aspect of his vision for the nation.
The Indonesian Judges Association recently held discussions with DPR leadership to voice their concerns regarding the lack of salary increases in the past 12 years. They disclosed that their current salaries are insufficient to support their families.
For newly appointed judges, their take-home pay amounts to around Rp 12 million, consisting of a basic salary of Rp 3.5 million and allowances of Rp 8.5 million.
“Our current salary is equivalent to the pocket money of Rafathar for only three days,” remarked Rangga, a representative of the judges, in reference to celebrity Raffi Ahmad’s son. “Meanwhile, we are responsible for our families, children, and parents,” he added.
Rangga underscored that the Rp 12 million salary is inadequate for judges considering the level of responsibility they carry. Prabowo’s assurance to address the situation has been well-received as judges anticipate the positive changes he has pledged to implement upon assuming office. (RR)
