Purbaya Affirms Not New People In The Fiscal World

JAKARTA - President Prabowo Subianto officially inaugurated Purbaya Yudhi Sadivewa as Minister of Finance replacing Sri Mulyani Indrawati, on Monday, September 8.

Purbaya emphasized that he is not a new figure in the world of fiscal policy and his involvement in this field has been going on for quite a long time.

He said he had been part of the Presidential Staff Office (KSP) for several years, including during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis in 2020 2021.

At that time, he helped President Joko Widodo design a fiscal policy to overcome economic pressure.

"It's not just the budget, but how to manage money at that time. So if you say I don't have experience, it's a big mistake," he told the media crew at the Ministry of Finance's Office, Monday, September 8.

In addition, he revealed that his involvement in fiscal policy had started in 2008, when he helped President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) as one of the advisers.

Then in 2015, he joined KSP to provide support to President Jokowi in the midst of an economic slowdown which at that time was successfully handled properly.

During the pandemic, he continued, his contribution to fiscal policy was carried out informally and free of charge.

Now, he said that in a joking tone, maybe now is the time for the contribution to be appreciated in real terms.

"I always give fiscal input to the government. Behind it, I don't get paid. Maybe now it's paid, right now? Isn't the big salary here? Do you think so," he said.

Purbaya emphasized that his long experience made him not need time to learn more about fiscal.

"I've known it for a long time with fiscal, this is our fiscal transfer, sir, so I won't be too easy, I don't need time to study anymore," he said.

He is committed to making fiscal policy the main driving force for the national economy.

Purbaya highlighted the importance of maintaining fiscal health and reminded that maintaining fiscal health should not hinder state spending, which is really needed to maintain economic growth.

According to him, in the last two quarters, the growth in government spending which he currently considers is still a bit slow.

Ia belum dapat memastikan apakah kondisi tersebut disebabkan oleh efisiensi anggaran atau faktor lainnya.

Namun yang pasti, perlambatan belanja memberi dampak langsung terhadap laju ekonomi nasional.

"Tapi yang jelas itu memberi dampak negatif ke perekonomian karena pertumbuhannya lambat dari situ. Saya alih fiskal, jadi saya ngerti betul fiskal yang produent seperti apa. Anda mau belajar?," tandasnya.

He could not confirm whether the condition was caused by budget efficiency or other factors.

But what is certain is that the slowdown in spending has a direct impact on the pace of the national economy.

"But what is clear is that it has a negative impact on the economy because the growth is slow from there. I have a fiscal transfer, so I really understand what kind of material producers are. Do you want to learn?," he said.