Indonesian Commissioners Inaugurate Sin: A Reflection on Justice and Conscience

By: Gus Hafidh SKP Muchtar

When data is laid bare, it should shake the conscience of this nation. How could it be that a commissioner of Bank Mandiri receives IDR 2.5 billion per month, a Telkom commissioner IDR 1.6 billion, and a Pertamina commissioner a staggering IDR 8.8 billion—while, in remote villages, teachers like Empan Supandi in Sukabumi survive on just IDR 200,000 per month?

He travels three hours daily, rain or shine, just to teach village children. Meanwhile, commissioners of state-owned enterprises (SOEs), with duties as light as attending meetings, signing documents, and giving occasional directions, live like sultans.

And it doesn’t stop there. They enjoy additional perks: a holiday bonus equal to a month’s salary, 20% transportation allowance, retirement insurance, full family healthcare, legal assistance, annual tantiem, and long-term incentives. In other words, while millions of Indonesians struggle to live on minimum wage, SOE commissioners legally collect wealth under the name of the state.

👉 This is not just inequality. It is the institutionalization of injustice.

Now pause, dear reader. What does this mean for you, for me, for us? It means our tax money—our collective contribution—is being funneled into the pockets of a few, while the nation’s backbone, teachers, nurses, and workers, remain invisible. If you believe in fairness, then this is the moment to stand for change.

When Professional Logic is Violated

Globally, this practice is absurd. Let’s look at the numbers:

• Fortune 500 companies in the US/Europe pay commissioners around IDR 200–600 million per month.

• In Japan, it is only IDR 170–250 million.

• In Singapore and Malaysia, between IDR 100–300 million.

👉 Compare that with Indonesia: Pertamina’s commissioner receives IDR 8.8 billion per month—almost 20 times higher than the global standard.

Now ask yourself: Is the workload of Indonesian commissioners heavier than those supervising ExxonMobil, JP Morgan, or Mitsubishi? Of course not.

This is where the logic collapses. It violates global standards, it insults national context, and it mocks the suffering of ordinary citizens.

And here comes the hard truth: when logic is betrayed, morality must speak louder. If you are a professional, an entrepreneur, or simply a citizen who believes in justice, you must recognize that these numbers are not just excessive—they are a legalized sin.

If you want your voice to matter, support transparency initiatives, demand performance-based remuneration, and join movements that fight for fairness in public institutions.

When National Context is Betrayed

Let us zoom into Indonesia itself:

• A minister earns around IDR 70 million per month.

• A top civil servant (Eselon I) earns about IDR 30 million.

• The average minimum wage sits at IDR 3–5 million.

Now compare that:

• An SOE commissioner earns 500–800 times a worker’s minimum wage.

• Their income is 30 times higher than a minister’s salary.

This is a paradox. A minister carries the burden of 280 million citizens, yet a commissioner—who supervises one company—earns far more. Where is the justice?

👉 Think about it: your daily wage, your monthly taxes, your household expenses—all exist in the shadow of this unfair equation.

This is why we must not only criticize, but also choose solutions that drive fairness. As a citizen, you can support policy advocacy, donate to educational equality programs, or even switch your financial and business services to institutions that practice fair governance. Your small action is your loud protest.

When Morality is Torn Apart

Here, we must differentiate:

• Amoral means acting without considering right or wrong.

• Immoral means consciously going against morality.

The phenomenon of SOE commissioners is not merely amoral—it is immoral.

Why? Because while a commissioner collects billions, a teacher is left with hundreds of thousands. While commissioners live in luxury, workers survive on statistics. This is not just inequality—it is the legalization of moral crime.

👉 Regulations should defend fairness. Instead, they have become tools to justify injustice.

Now, dear reader, comes the conversion moment: if you are running a business, managing resources, or building influence, remember that moral leadership is your greatest currency. Partner only with organizations that prioritize justice, sustainability, and humanity. Let your purchases, your services, your investments reflect your conscience.

A Call for Real Change

Protesting without offering solutions is just a shout in the wind. Therefore, here are pathways we must demand together:

1. Link Pay to Real Performance – If the company loses, commissioners’ pay must shrink, even to zero. No performance, no pay.

2. Cap Salaries – Maximum of 10 times a minister’s salary or 100 times the national minimum wage.

3. Transparent, Professional Selection – Only experts in finance, law, or business should qualify.

4. No Double Positions – Ministers, politicians, and public officials should never sit as commissioners.

5. Moral and Social Audit – Beyond finances, assess commissioners’ contributions to justice, anti-corruption, and sustainability.

6. Reallocate Wealth – Redirect part of their pay to fund teachers and healthcare workers.

👉 Imagine: One Bank Mandiri commissioner’s IDR 2.5 billion salary could pay 500 teachers IDR 5 million each. Half a thousand teachers could live with dignity—funded by one commissioner’s seat.

If this vision resonates with you, then act. Share this truth, support initiatives for wage justice, and demand reforms in SOEs.

Closing Reflection: A Nation at a Crossroads

This issue is not only professional, nor merely political—it is profoundly moral.

• Globally, it violates logic.

• Nationally, it breaks context.

• Morally, it is nothing less than immoral.

When sin is legalized, the question remains: Will we stay silent, or will we stand for justice?

Your voice matters. Your purchase choices matter. Your partnerships matter. Choose fairness, support transparency, and align your actions with conscience.

Because one day, we will all be asked: What did you do when injustice was legalized before your eyes?

Bismillah.