Purbaya Follow the Supreme Court's Decision, Research Budget May Be Separated in 2028

JAKARTA - Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa said the government would follow the Constitutional Court's ruling regarding the separation of research budgets from education budgets. However, he signaled that its implementation would lead to the 2028 budget.

Purbaya said this when asked by reporters at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, Friday, July 31.

"We will follow the Supreme Court's decision. 2028, right?" said Purbaya.

When asked whether the separation of the budget was likely to take place in 2028, Purbaya again emphasized that the year was a reference.

"Oh yes, for 2028 only," he said.

According to Purbaya, this year's budget has been discussed and is heading towards finalization. Therefore, major changes at this stage are considered not easy to do.

"If this has been discussed. Later we will be tired of working again. So if 2028 is 2028. Because maybe the Constitutional Court also calculates that this has been discussed, it just needs to be finalized. If it changes, it will not be too late," he said.

Purbaya has not explained the impact of separating the research budget from the education budget on the burden of the state budget. He said the government still needed to calculate it.

"Later we will count," he said.

He also said that the issue of the Constitutional Court's ruling had not been discussed with President Prabowo Subianto. When asked if there were plans to discuss it with the President, Purbaya answered briefly.

"Not yet," he said.

Apart from the issue of research budgets, Purbaya also touched on plans to meet with the Head of BGN Sudaryono regarding the evaluation of the budget for the free nutritious meal program or MBG. He said the meeting had not been held because the Head of BGN was still consolidating.

"Belum. Dia masih konsolidasi. Setelah konsolidasi selesai baru saya ketemu. Kayaknya minggu depan saya ketemu beliau," ujar Purbaya.