TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto slipped up during his speech at the parliament's plenary session on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. The president mistakenly mentioned that "teachers" are receiving nearly a 300 percent salary hike when, in fact, he meant to say "judges."
He prefaced it by saying that a country seeking progress must have a strong government and bureaucracy. "There's no such thing as an advanced country without legal certainty," Prabowo said at the parliament building in Jakarta.
Prabowo went on to say that he had raised the salary of judges, but misspoke and instead said, "That's why my government has raised the salaries of teachers, some seeing a nearly 300 percent hike."
Upon realizing his mistake, Prabowo remained silent for a few seconds, and subsequently corrected himself. "(I meant) our judges, I apologize, judges," he said.
Prabowo expressed his pride in receiving reports that the Chief Justice of the Indonesian Supreme Court has a higher income than the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in Singapore.
Junior judges in Indonesia are also paid higher than their counterparts in Malaysia, he said.
This, according to the former Defense Minister, is part of the effort to establish bribery-free justice institutions. "We don't want our judges bribed and bought," he said.
During the same speech, Prabowo expressed his goal to ensure teachers' welfare, as the future of the nation hinges on the quality of education given to Indonesian children.
Quality education, in turn, is determined by qualified teachers; hence, Prabowo said, improving the living conditions of Indonesian teachers "must be prioritized."
On the other hand, Prabowo acknowledged the low salaries received by some teachers, law enforcement officers, and civil servants, which he blamed on, among others, the inability of Indonesia's state budget due to corrupt practices.
"What has happened is what we call under-invoicing, which is constituted as fraud," said Prabowo.
Prabowo attended the plenary session of the House of Representatives (DPR) to present the macroeconomic and fiscal policy framework (KEM-PPKF), becoming the first Indonesian president to do so.
Read: Prabowo to Use Technology to Track Corruptors' Assets
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
JCI Slips at Close Led by Losses in Basic Materials Stocks
1 jam lalu
JCI closed weaker by 52.18 points or 0.82 percent to the position of 6,318.50.
Prabowo Wants Indonesia to Produce Its Own Cars, Mobile Phones
1 jam lalu
President Prabowo emphasizes that Indonesia must not become merely a market for foreign parties.
Prabowo to Use Technology to Track Corruptors' Assets
1 jam lalu
Prabowo claims that current technology is very advanced and can track underground spaces.
Prabowo Criticizes 'Green-Brown' Officials for Protecting Lawbreakers
2 jam lalu
President Prabowo Subianto highlights uniformed officials who often protect those involved in embezzling national assets.
Prabowo Says New Export Agency Secured $150 Billion in Savings
3 jam lalu
Prabowo said the government is seeking to curb illegal mining, plantations, and fraud to address an estimated US$150 billion in annual export losses.
Prabowo Unveils Macroeconomic Assumptions for 2027
3 jam lalu
President Prabowo Subianto outlines the macroeconomic assumptions for the 2027 draft state budget, targeting economic growth of 5.8 to 6.5 percent.
Few Buyers at Home
3 jam lalu
National solar panel factories run far below capacity. Demand at home remains limited.
Why Bank Indonesia Raised Its Benchmark Rate to 5.25 Percent
4 jam lalu
Bank Indonesia has raised its benchmark interest rate by 50 bps to 5.25 percent to stabilize the rupiah.
Oil Palm Farmers Warn of Monopoly Risks in New Export Rule
4 jam lalu
An oil palm farmers' association warns that President Prabowo's single-gate export policy could trigger monopolies and hurt independent farmers.
Which SOE Will Control Prabowo's Single-Gate Export?
5 jam lalu
President Prabowo Subianto mandates a single-gate export system for natural resource commodities through state-owned enterprises.
