Thomas Djiwandono-Juda Agung Will Change Places, Minister of Finance Purbaya: It Looks Like That

JAKARTA - Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa spoke up about the news of the proposal of Deputy Minister of Finance (Wamenkeu) Thomas Djiwandono as Deputy Governor of Bank Indonesia (BI).

Purbaya expressed his support for the plan and considered the move positive for the development of his experience.

"Yes, it's good, let Mr. Thomas have more experience. Fiscal, now if you enter the monetary, it's good. I support," he told the media, Monday, January 19.

He also did not rule out the possibility that the position of Deputy Minister of Finance left by Thomas would be filled by Juda Agung, who was previously rumored to have resigned from the position of Deputy Governor of BI.

Purbaya plans to meet directly with Juda Agung to ensure his readiness.

"It looks like that, I heard that too. Later I want to meet with Mr. Juda tomorrow. I want to see what his intentions are," he said.

When asked if the change resembled a job change, Purbaya answered in a relaxed tone while strengthening the rumors circulating. "It looks like a switch-switch. If the rumor is like that, it looks like that, it looks like a switch," he explained.

Purbaya emphasized that the plan to place Thomas at BI was not something that came out of the blue, by revealing that before being nominated as Deputy Governor of BI, Thomas was asked to attend the BI Governor's Board Meeting (RDG) in November 2025.

According to Purbaya, Thomas' assignment to BI has been prepared for some time and even, Thomas has twice attended the BI RDG as a representative of the Minister of Finance.

"He was told to spy on what was going on at BI? Isn't it enough to spy on it twice, so he moved there as well, I think," he said.

Previously, the Chairman of Commission XI of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Mukhamad Misbakhun, conveyed that the Government had sent a Presidential Letter (Supres) to the House of Representatives (DPR) regarding the filling of the Deputy Governor of the Bank Indonesia.

He added that the surprise had been discussed in the DPR Consultative Body (Bamus) meeting and was subsequently assigned to Commission XI.

Misbakhun added that Commission XI is scheduled to hold an internal meeting to arrange the schedule for the fit and proper test for the candidates for Deputy Governor of the Bank Indonesia.

"The surprise was just discussed at BAMUS and assigned to Commission 11. Tomorrow, Commission 11 will hold an internal meeting to arrange the schedule for the fit and proper test," he told the media, Monday, January 19.

He added that there were three names proposed, namely Deputy Minister of Finance Thomas Djiwandono, Head of the BI Payment System Policy Department Dicky Kartikoyono, Assistant Governor Head of the BI Macroprudential Policy Department, Solikin M Juhro

However, he added, until now the schedule for the fit and proper test has not been determined and will be determined in the internal meeting of Commission XI.

"We will only determine the schedule," he said.

Misbakhun said that the process would be carried out in the near future and was sure to take place on weekdays.

"Yes, the point is this week, what day is Mau, the important thing is the working day," he concluded.