Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia During the Inauguration of Supreme Court Judges at Supreme Court Building, Jakarta, on Thursday, June 12, 2025
Bismillahirrahmanirrahim,
Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,
Good morning,
Peace and prosperity be upon us all,
Shalom,
Salve,
Om swastiastu,
Namo Buddhaya,
Greetings of virtue.
Distinguished and esteemed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Indonesia, Prof. Dr. Sunarto, S.H., M.H.;
Vice Chief Justice for Non-Judicial Affairs, Mr H. Suharto, S.H., M.H.
The Chamber Chairs of the Supreme Court, Justices, and Ad Hoc Justices of the Supreme Court, as well as the entire Supreme Court apparatus whom I highly respect and am proud of;
Chairperson of the Regional Representative Council of the Republic of Indonesia Mr Sultan Baktiar Najamudin; Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court Dr. Suhartoyo; Chairperson of the Judicial Commission Prof. Amzulian Rifai; Chairperson of the Audit Board of Indonesia Ms Isma Yatun; Minister of Law Mr Supratman Andi Agtas; Minister of State Secretary Mr Prasetyo Hadi; Cabinet Secretary Mr Teddy Indra Wijaya; Chief of the Indonesian National Police General Listyo Sigit Prabowo; Commander of the Indonesian Armed Forces General Agus Subiyanto; Deputy Coordinating Minister for Politics and Security Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Lodewijk Freidrich Paulus;
Respected Judges, Distinguished Guests, Members of the Press;
And most importantly, the newly inaugurated judges whom I am proud of.
First of all, as faithful individuals, let us never cease to offer our praise and gratitude to Almighty God, the Most Glorious, the Lord of all creation, for the blessings bestowed upon us. We have been granted health, allowing us to gather here today at this highly esteemed place, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Indonesia, for the inauguration of 1.451 judges. This is a great honor for me. Thank you for the invitation. I feel it is important and necessary to be present at every event organized by our judicial institutions, especially the Supreme Court, the Constitutional Court, and others.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We are all engaged in the noble endeavor of building a nation. Nation-building is a journey that spans hundreds of years. To build a successful nation, certain key elements are required. There are nearly 200 countries in the world today. Some have populations as small as 200.000, just tiny island nations. Others may have one million citizens. But there are not many countries like ours, with nearly 300 million people, 285 million as of today, and increasing by nearly 5 million each year. Moreover, no countries are as diverse as ours, comprising hundreds of ethnic groups, religions, races, local languages, and diverse cultures.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
History teaches us that not all nations succeed. Throughout times, countries have generally fallen into two broad categories: successful states and failed states. A failed state is one that cannot fulfill the national goals envisioned by its founding fathers—goals such as protecting its citizens, promoting public welfare, educating the nation, and contributing to global order. These are universal aspirations shared by most nations. Among them, the foremost priority is always protection: to safeguard the people and defend the territory.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
One of the defining elements of a successful state, throughout history, is the presence of a functioning legal system that guarantees justice for all its citizens. Nations that lack such a system often fail. A country endowed with abundant natural resources, minerals, and energy will inevitably attract external interest—even conflict. Why? Because, at the core of human behavior, people will do whatever it takes to survive. Survival is a fundamental instinct, and in the absence of justice, that instinct can lead to chaos.
A nation deprived of water resources may be driven to war over it. Take the case of India and Pakistan today: India plans to divert several rivers, and Pakistan has responded with threats of nuclear retaliation—choosing mutual destruction over a slow death from thirst and famine. This is about survival. Nations without fertile land will seek to seize it. The same applies to valuable minerals and energy. Countries lacking critical resources will inevitably pursue what others possess. Often, nations rich in natural resources find themselves undermined.
If a country lacks a justice system capable of ensuring fairness, it risks instability, unrest, even war,. This is the lesson from history. That is why the judiciary is crucial. For centuries, modern states have operated under the Trias Politica, which consists of the executive, legislative, and judiciary branches. A strong executive alone is not enough. If the legislative and judiciary are weak, it will not work. It cannot be done and history has proven this for thousands of years. As the President elected by the people, I fully understand that without a strong, just, and incorruptible judiciary, I will not be able to fulfill my duties to the people. Therefore, I thank the Chief Justice. If I’m not mistaken, this is the second time in six months I have been invited here. Thank you. I will not make this speech too long because I believe you already know where this is going, right? This is a speech that you have been waiting for.
But the point is I want to highlight the importance of judges. Judges are the last bastion of justice. The poor and powerless can only hope for fair judges. The rich and powerful can afford elite legal teams. But the common person must depend on judges who are fair, who cannot be bribed, who love justice, who love the people.
This is what I want to emphasize: the people of Indonesia depend on judges. As President, I fully recognize that. That is why, I have instructed my Ministers to raise the salaries of judges across Indonesia the country. I told them, “Find the funds.” One of the privileges of being President is that I can issue the order—it’s the ministers, especially the Minister of Finance, who must find a way to make it work. They proposed a figure, and I said, “That’s not enough.” If necessary, we will cut the budgets of other ministries or institutions. The Commander of the Armed Forces and the Chief of Police are here today—so let me say this clearly: if it means cutting the budgets of the military or the police, then we will do so. What’s the point of having a powerful armed force or police institution if criminals, corruptors, and thieves walk free from court? That would be an injustice to your subordinates, Chief of Police. What we need are judges who are truly untouchable—judges who cannot be bribed. When I assumed office, I asked about the condition of our judiciary. I was told that judges had not received a salary raise in 18 years. Eighteen years! And yet, they are entrusted with cases involving trillions of rupiah.
I also heard that some judges are still renting a house, while some don’t get state housing. We are organizing the housing issue and will soon implement a massive housing program.
And as for salaries, let me get straight to the point. This was originally in paragraph five, so there are four more paragraph to read, but let’s just skip ahead. To the most awaited and important point for today.
Today, I, Prabowo Subianto, the 8th President of the Republic of Indonesia, announce that judges’ salaries will be increased for their welfare, with varying levels depending on their rank. The highest increase will reach 280%, and it will be applied mostly to the junior rank. But all judges will receive significant increases. I am monitoring this closely. To all other government employees, please be patient.
I have seen the numbers. Our country is strong, prosperous, and rich. What matters is that this wealth is managed for the greatest benefit of the people. That is the mandate of the Constitution, and it is the highest level of law. Right, Mr. Chief Justice? Yes, I am correct.
When it comes to knowledge, I seek out to the most knowledgeable. In law, it is our Supreme Court Justices. So when they affirm something, and issue a legal opinion, I have no doubt.
As President, I am sworn to uphold the Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia. Mr. Chief Justice, is that correct? I am also bound by oath to enforce all laws in force across the country—is that right? I will carry out those laws firmly and without hesitation.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I think that is all I am going to convey today since the main point has already been delivered, right?
Ladies and Gentlemen,
To everyone else, please be patient. I do not believe I am wrong. In fact, I think this raise still is not enough. But it is a start. Eighteen years without a raise, not even 3% or 5%, right? Today, President Prabowo Subianto has decided that the most junior ranks will receive a 280% raise. And this is not indulgence. It is necessary. It is better than letting state funds be stolen by corrupt individuals. I have given many warnings, but perhaps in Indonesia, warnings do not always work. Soon, with a strong judiciary, we will uphold the law. Enforce the law. Whoever violates it, whoever causes trouble, needs to obey the law for the benefit of us all.
I try not to embarrass anyone. But I see far too many people entrusted with public responsibility who deceive the state, lie to its superiors, steal public funds, and act with impunity. However, with a strong judiciary, with law enforcement that uphold integrity, I trust the police will carry out their duties, the military will support them, the Attorney General will act justly. We will build a successful Indonesia – one founded on a robust and principled legal system.
The rest of my speech is just formality, such as demonstrating professionalism, integrity, dignity, etc. So just let me conclude this speech.
Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. (TCUD/EP)