Jakarta — Prabowo Subianto, the President-elect, stressed the importance of having incorruptible judges as a key factor in creating a corruption-free nation. He made this statement during a conversation with Deputy Speaker of the DPR, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, while speaking to 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 stated.
“Because of that, judges must be strong, and their conditions must be the best we can provide. This is my commitment,” he continued.
As the current Defense Minister of Indonesia, Prabowo emphasized the need to prioritize improving the quality of life and ensuring the financial security of judges.
“You can look at my past speeches and records. I have always believed that judges’ living standards need to be enhanced and guaranteed so that they can maintain their independence and perform their duties to the best of their abilities,” Prabowo added.
Prabowo has long been committed to enhancing the remuneration of judges as part of his vision for the country.
The Indonesian Judges Association recently met with DPR leadership to voice their concerns about the lack of salary increases over the past 12 years. They disclosed that their current income is insufficient to support their families.
For newly appointed judges, their net income is around Rp 12 million, consisting of a base salary of Rp 3.5 million and allowances of Rp 8.5 million.
“Our current salary is like pocket money for Rafathar for three days,” said Rangga, a representative of the judges, referring to the son of celebrity Raffi Ahmad. “Meanwhile, we have to take care of our families, children, and parents,” he added.
Rangga pointed out that the Rp 12 million salary is inadequate considering the level of responsibility judges carry. Prabowo’s promise to improve the situation has been positively received as judges eagerly await the changes he has pledged to make once he assumes office. (RR)
