Sri Mulyani Is Silent About Policy, Economists Value Resignation Of Public Information

JAKARTA - Director of the Digital Economy Center of Economic and Law Studies (Celios) Nailul Huda assessed that the silence of Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati in responding to the certainty of an increase in value added tax (VAT) and several other policies that were widely discussed in the community were setbacks in terms of conveying public information.

"This is a setback, especially in terms of conveying public information which will definitely be limited," he told VOI, Thursday, December 5.

Huda hopes that information can be conveyed more openly, so that the public gets an answer to certainty regarding the policy. In addition, the delivery of public information is an important aspect in carrying out government transparency and increasing public participation.

"Indeed, we prefer very open information and questions from the public (community and journalists) can be conveyed and answered directly by public officials," he explained.

In addition, Huda conveyed that there was a change in the pattern of communication in the government under Prabowo Subianto's leadership, to the Ministers, especially regarding the delivery of information to the public, where communication is only through official channels.

"I see that at this time, the doorstop system does not apply under Prabowo's administration, including to the Minister who finally asked questions and answers only at one door. Actually, this is to avoid slipping in submission to fellow journalists," he said.

Huda gave an example, such as Finance Minister Sri Mulyani and her staff, who have been known as figures close to the public and the media, now seems to prefer one-way communication. This is clearly seen after the issue of increasing Value Added Tax (VAT) rates which was widely discussed some time ago.

"Sri Mulyani and her staff have been public counsel, but they are also forced to remain silent, especially in cases of VAT rates which have been very busy in recent times. They prefer one-way communication," he said.

Previously, a number of Ministers of the Red and White Cabinet held a limited coordination meeting (Rakortas) related to Fiscal Policy and Intensiveness to encourage the Economy and Attractive Investment at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, Wednesday, December 3.

One of the discussions discussed was related to the Value Added Tax (VAT) which will increase to 12 percent by 2025.

The meeting took place from 15.00 WIB to around 16.00 WIB which was attended by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Deputy Minister of Housing and Settlement Area Fahri Hamzah, Minister of Manpower Yassierli and Director General of Tax Suryo Utomo.

When asked about the increase in VAT of 12 percent in 2025, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati again chose to smile and was reluctant to comment further on a number of policies that were widely discussed in the community.

Sri Mulyani's silence is not only today but has happened in recent times.

However, Sri Mulyani only answered to be asked directly to the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto directly regarding the results of the Coordination Meeting.

"Just the Coordinating Minister, the Coordinating Minister will convey it," he told the media crew, Tuesday, December 3.