Criticized By Members Of The DPR For Often Commenting On Other Ministry Policies, Purbaya: Very Stupid

JAKARTA - Minister of Purbaya Yudhi Sadives opened his voice regarding members of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR), who asked him not to comment on other ministry policies and also emphasized the importance of consulting first before making decisions regarding budget allocations.

Responding to this, Purbaya explained, the focus of his statement was not on commenting on the performance of Ministries/Institutions (K/L), but on the low level of budget absorption by a number of Ministries/L.

"I don't comment on other ministries, I am very stupid. But like this, I have an interest, my budget is absorbed. If it's not absorbed, I'll take the money. That's all. I don't comment on their work," he told the media crew, Wednesday, October 15.

He emphasized that the process of sweeping and reallocating the budget that was not absorbed did not have to go through the DPR's approval, because the mechanism is part of routine management of the state budget.

"No. There is also this one every year, there is more budget. Some are not used, I just take it. Or it can be spent, if shopping to other places, maybe yes. But there are expenditures that don't have to be approved by the parliament," he said.

He said the budget could also be used to reduce debt and not always had to go through parliamentary approval.

Saat ditanya apakah perlu berkonsultasi ke DPR terlebih dahulu, Purbaya menjawab.

"Saya enggak tahu, harusnya sih, enggak, kalau saya ngurangin utang, kalau enggak perlu kenapa-kenapa. Kenapa harusnya sesuai dengan ini. Anggarannya di depan. Kalau enggak butuh ya. Saya mencegah in efisiensi budget dengan tadi, memberikan utang-utang tambahan yang uangnya enggak dipakai, itu aja. Jadi ambil tuh enggak langsung diambil duitnya di sana. Karena sebagian masih di saya. Artinya mungkin enggak diteruskan penerbitan utangnya atau skema pembiayaannya," jelasnya.

Sebagaimana diketahui, Purbaya sebelumnya telah mengimbau seluruh kementerian dan lembaga untuk segera mempercepat realisasi anggaran, mengingat waktu yang tersisa hanya sekitar tiga bulan menuju akhir tahun 2025.

When asked if it was necessary to consult with the DPR first, Purbaya replied.

"I don't know, it should be, no, if I collect the debt, if I don't need it, why. Why should it be in accordance with this. The budget is in front. If you don't need it, yes. I will prevent in-efficiency budget with earlier, give additional debts whose money is not used, that's all. So take it right away and take the money there. Because some of it is still with me. This means that maybe the debt issuance or the financing scheme is continued," he explained.

As is known, Purbaya had previously appealed to all ministries and institutions to immediately accelerate the realization of the budget, considering that the remaining time was only about three months from the end of 2025.