BRI Boss Says Himbara Is Waiting For MSME Debt Elimination Plan

JAKARTA - President Director of PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (BRI) Sunarso said the policy plan to abolish bad debts/credit for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) was indeed awaited by the Association of State-Owned Banks (Himbara).

Actually, the policy that state-owned banks can delete collections has been eagerly awaited (given) that so far they do not dare to do that is because there are still various rules that can categorize it as state losses. So, the point is that the policy of removing collections, especially for MSMEs, is indeed awaited by Himbara," he quoted Antara as saying.

According to him, determining what criteria can be deleted by collection is considered the most important to determine so as not to cause moral hazard.

As long as there is no moral hazard, BRI is said to have calculated the estimated impact on BRI's financial performance which will be included in financial planning for next year when this policy is implemented.

"Actually, the most important thing about this policy is bleaching from the blacklist so that if those people are still strong, they can still try, they can have access to financing, then they can try again. That's actually the most important thing. Continue for the bank, by providing that opportunity, it is not categorized as state loss," he said.

"That's the most important thing actually, and what needs to be maintained is moral hazard. Don't let moral hazard occur, it is used by bad intentions," Sunarso said.

Previously, President Prabowo Subianto reportedly planned to write off bad credit debt of at least six million farmers, fishermen, and MSMEs in banking, through the issuance of a Presidential Regulation on debt bleaching.

Debt decay is expected to reopen access for farmers, fishermen and MSMEs to bank financing.