Jakarta. President Prabowo Subianto has banned Papua's regional heads from traveling abroad, especially if these trips use the so-called "special autonomy funds".

Prabowo recently gathered Papua's regional leaders in a meeting aimed at expediting equitable growth. Indonesia is trying to shift away from a Java-centric growth. This prompted the central government to transfer special autonomy funds to spur development.

"To the governors and regents, please be responsible. You shouldn't travel abroad too much using special autonomy funds," Prabowo said.

He went on to say that it would not only be the Home Affairs Ministry to oversee the budget use.

"Everyone has gadgets," Prabowo said, warning the regional leaders of possible public scrutiny if they travel abroad.

Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa reported that the government had disbursed Rp 12.69 trillion ($760 million) so far this year in 2025. He told the same meeting that the budget had dropped to Rp 10 trillion next year. Prabowo said that the budget could possibly increase with more budget cuts. Since assuming power last October, Prabowo has ordered massive budget austerity measures aimed at slashing non-essential spendings.

"If we can save money, it's possible that we will raise [the special autonomy funds] to like how it was [Rp 12.69 trillion]," Prabowo said.

Prabowo — a frequent traveler — has grown critical of overseas trips by government officials. Just earlier this week, Prabowo slammed South Aceh Regent Mirwan MS who went on Umrah pilgrimage when his region was struggling with the aftermath of the catastrophic flood.

"There is actually this one person, who I believe is not loyal to his people. At a critical time, he had left his place for whatever reason," Prabowo said in a cabinet meeting on Monday.

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