Introductory Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia at Plenary Cabinet Session at the State Palace, Jakarta, March 13, 2026
Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.
Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,
Good afternoon,
May peace be upon us all,
Shalom,
Salve,
Om swastiastu,
Namo Buddhaya,
Greetings of virtue.
Distinguished Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Coordinating Ministers, Ministers, Heads of Government Agencies, Head of the National Economic Board (DEN), Advisors and Presidential Special Staffers, Attorney General, Head of the National Intelligence Agency, Chief of the National Police of the Republic of Indonesia, Commander of the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI), Chiefs of Staff [of the TNI], Vice Ministers, Vice Heads of Government Agencies, and all members of the Red and White Cabinet,
As people of faith, let us never cease to offer praise and gratitude to Allah SWT, the Almighty God, the Great God who owns the universe, for all the blessings, health, good, and peace He has bestowed upon us, allowing us to convene the Plenary Cabinet Meeting regarding the preparedness for Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijri.
We are on the 23rd day of the holy month of Ramadan, and in seven days, we will celebrate Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijri. May Allah SWT accept our prayers, and may we meet again in the coming Ramadan for Muslims. I would also like to express my thanks to our brothers and sisters of different faiths for respecting the month of Ramadan. This has always been Indonesia’s pride and excellence, to perform our respective religious practices in an atmosphere of harmony, kinship, and mutual respect.
I was very impressed when I attended the centennial of Nadhlatul Ulama (NU) in Malang, at Gajayana Stadium. There, Nadhlatul Ulama figures said that churches in Malang opened their grounds, let NU people sleep on the church grounds, and lent their parking lot. This is our plus point. This is our good quality, our strength. Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, unity in diversity. We must maintain it.
Once again, thank you for carrying out government programs during the holy month of Ramadan, and we will continue to keep up with the developments. We hold this cabinet session amid a situation in which many of our people are still recovering from the various disasters we face. I thank everyone for their hard work.
Just now, we watched a short video clip about the work of the Bridge Task Force; 218 bridges in two and a half months. It shows a quick, responsive action and the Government’s presence. However, everyone, especially in the rehabilitation and reconstruction [project] in disaster areas, also shows agility, hard work, and great physical sacrifice. In fact, some put their lives on the line to help people in disaster areas.
On behalf of the state and the nation, and as the president, I would like to express my appreciation to everyone who has worked hard. Minister of Home Affairs, as Head of the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Task Force, please convey my appreciation and thanks to all those on the ground who have worked hard.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Today, we have also set an example by paying zakat, which underscores the important role of the National Amil Zakat Agency (Baznas). The National Amil Zakat Agency and all financial institutions, economic institutions of all religious organizations in Indonesia, we must coordinate them, we must consolidate them, and we must enhance their capacity with existing technology, so we can meaningfully, efficiently, and effectively mobilize the economic potential of our country.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Now, I would like to address issues related to the Eid al-Fitr exodus (mudik). First of all, I ordered the Minister of Transportation to ensure that the price discount policy is optimally implemented, including discounts for planes, trains, ships, and toll roads, and ensure good service at every place.
I also instructed the Commander of the TNI and the Chief of the National Police to mobilize their facilities to facilitate a smooth mudik. The ships of the Navy and the Army could be used, and it should be coordinated with the Minister of Transportation. I suppose the National Police of the Republic of Indonesia also has assets and facilities to assist [mudik].
Minister of Social Affairs, assure me that the additional food assistance for 35 million beneficiary families, of deciles 1, 2, 3, and 4, is properly distributed. Assure me as well that regular social assistance can be distributed on time. I also ordered ministries and institutions to accelerate the Government’s priority spending for the people, including the Participatory Mapping Service Node (SLPP) and Self-Help Housing Stimulant Assistance (BSPS).
Minister of Manpower, Minister of Finance, and Minister of Investment, ensure that the holiday bonus for all state civil apparatus in the central and regional governments is promptly disbursed. Additionally, the holiday bonus for workers in the online transportation sector—ensure that they receive the amount we set out, between Rp400,000 and Rp1.6 million per person. We are also grateful that, for the first time and in our administration, online transportation drivers receive a holiday bonus. Thank you.
Furthermore, I want the service quality in rest areas, at ports, at airports, and at all train stations to be improved. Try to avoid uncontrolled queues. Try to stabilize fuel availability, electricity supply, and internet network. This is the second Eid al-Fitr in our administration.
Minister, Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs, Minister of Trade, Minister of Agriculture, ensure that the food supply is stable and secure, and that prices are maintained. Perhaps later several ministers will deliver their report.
Minister of Tourism, I order you to actively visit tourist destinations, invite people, and promote every aspect of tourism in the country. The world is full of uncertainty. We have seen the crisis hit many countries. We must respond to the crisis, but the economy must carry on, and the people must remain calm. We still have power and the ability to keep the wheel of life rolling. Overall, we can still control the situation.
For all ministries and agencies, I hope we can prepare for Eid al-Fitr. We must ensure that the mudik this year proceeds properly, safely, comfortably, and happily. Prioritize safety on the road and prepare all aspects thoroughly.
Moreover, the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs can perhaps explain the outline of the economic situation, assisted by the Head of the National Economic Board, and the Minister of Finance can also give additional information if needed.
Afterward, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources will report the availability of fuel oil, preparation, and mitigation measures to face the global crisis. The Minister of Agriculture will report on the situation of agriculture, food, and rice supply.
The Minister of Transportation will report on the preparedness of mudik, Chief of the National Police will report on the security and traffic condition, and other ministers will stand by for additional information if necessary, including the President Director of Pertamina, who will stand by if we need additional explanation.
Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, the floor is yours.
(Report from members of the Red and White Cabinet)
Alright, thank you, Chief of the National Police. I suppose the planning is quite well and detailed. We are ready to face all possibilities. I thank you. Overall, we can summarize what we heard [about] presentations on current situations.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to summarize everything. Yes, we will make a conclusion. We will face the global developments in Europe and the Middle East, which certainly affect us because they influence fuel prices. Fuel prices can affect food prices. Alhamdulillah, we have solved the basic food issue. As for the fuel issue, we actually have plans, which we will accelerate.
However, we certainly must take proactive steps, meaning that we must reduce fuel consumption. We cannot consider that whatever happens, we are safe. We are grateful that we are safe, but we must make efforts to reduce our fuel consumption. Many countries have taken their measures. Perhaps the Cabinet Secretary, is he here? Is there a slide on other countries’ measures? This is Pakistan’s for comparison.
They view it as a critical situation, so these are critical measures. This is for them as COVID-19 era was for us. They implement work from home policy at all offices, be it government or private companies, 50 percent of them work from home. In addition, they reduce their working days to four days [a week]. They even cut the salary of cabinet members, members of the House of Representatives, and the salary cut is collected to help the most vulnerable groups. They reduce the availability of fuel for all ministries, and they prohibit 60 percent of government vehicles from being used all the time. They stop all government institutions’ spending on air conditioners, vehicles, and furniture for an indefinite period. They stop all overseas visits. They reduce—forbid the use of government funds for parties and the like. Furthermore, all higher education institutions carry out classes online. Additionally, all school operations cease for two weeks. Perhaps, this is to prepare for Eid al-Fitr.
These are only examples. Merely examples. I mean to say that we have a few days to review the issue, don’t we? I suppose we must also conduct efficiency. I believe in two or three years, we will be very strong, but we must reduce consumption.
Therefore, we hope, we will always maintain our deficit level. In fact, we aspire to achieve zero deficit. Our target is that our State Budget must have a balanced budget. This is ideal, and I assume we can do it. We must always remember that we are still facing corruption issues, inefficiencies, issues such as underinvoicing, undercounting, and administrative manipulation.
This is massive corruption. Pardon me, I will always talk about this issue. We have taken steps, as stated by the Head of the DEN, about gov tech. Synchronize all ministries and institutions in one gov tech network. It is predicted to reduce corruption by 40 percent of our expenses.
I order you to discuss it, perhaps with the Coordinating Ministers, in a few days. We will see, we will think about it. Back then, we managed to overcome COVID-19, and we did it. Many people worked from home, and we carried out efficiency plans, meaning we saved fuel in an extraordinary amount. If a percentage of state civil apparatus and state officials are not required to go to the office, it will ease congestion and implement massive efficiency. We must also consider reducing business days and other efficiency measures.
I suppose that concludes my statement. Even though we feel safe and we do not panic, we must not lower our guard. We must prepare for the worst. We hope that the worst scenario does not occur in the Middle East, but many predictions say that it may be a very long war. Yes, a very long war.
That is all from me. Thank you to all ministers and heads of agencies. I would like to express my appreciation for the hard work of all the elements. I suppose we have proven, not only to our people but also to the world, that our Government works very quickly and very efficiently. We still have many more to do, but we are bold in the face of difficulty.
We are brave to face hardship, and we refuse to lie to our people, and we refuse to lie to ourselves. If we always lie to ourselves, we will make mistakes, so we must be brave to face reality, be brave to see our weaknesses, and be brave to overcome them. We have positive scenarios, moderate scenarios, and worst-case scenarios, but everything depends on us.
Thank you for the hard work of all Ministers, Vice Ministers, and Heads of Agencies. We will continue to prove to our people that we work for their interests. We must no longer think about the interests of certain groups, classes, ethnicities, or even our respective political parties. Loyalty to the nation must be above all.
Thank you. I hereby conclude the Plenary Cabinet Session ahead of the Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijri. For those who are coming home, let me wish you a pleasant mudik and take care of yourselves at home.
We, too, I suppose, must set an example. We must not be too extravagant in our open house. There are our brothers and sisters in the disaster areas. In this situation, we must set an example to our people. Nevertheless, we must not cease all events, or else our economy will not resume. Stores, catering services, and everything, our economy must continue to run.
Earlier, the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, the Head of DEN, and the Minister of Finance stated that our economy is doing well and robust. Those who make judgments that our economy is in disarray, I believe that they have their own agenda. Could it be that they are working for someone other than the Indonesian people?
In my opinion, our people will be smart enough to see. It is important that we prove it to the people, that is what’s most important. I will also urge, I will convey it to the people, there are the media too. Our people are smart. They are clever. Be careful not to be provoked. Be careful, our children are being provoked. Our innocent children who understand nothing yet are provoked to commit negative actions.
Ladies and Gentlemen, our country is strong and has potential. We are on the right path. Those who want to ignite riots are terrible people. There is no good in riots. We have chosen the path of democracy, so we must settle differences wisely. If they don’t like the Government and officials, they should change them through elections. We have proven it. There are elections for governors. There are changes of ministers and presidents. We have proven that [democracy] runs well. Some are on our Government’s side, some are outside. There is no problem. There are parts of the Government outside our coalition. Some won the election for the Governor of the Special Region of Jakarta. We did not interfere; instead, we respect it, and we work together. The Governor of the Special Region of Jakarta and the Central Government work together very well because we serve the people.
Once again, Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for your service and let us continue to work for our state and people. I hereby conclude the Plenary Cabinet Session, March 13, 2026.
I thank you.
(DH/MUR)