Deputy Minister Of Finance Thomas DJiwandono Reveals Infrastructure Budget Reduced For Quick Win Prabowo Program

Deputy Minister of Finance II Thomas Djiwandono. (Photo: Aris Nurjani/VOI)

JAKARTA - Deputy Minister of Finance (Wamenkeu) II Thomas Djiwandono opened his voice regarding the reduction in the infrastructure budget that was diverted to support President Prabowo Subianto's quick win program, including the Free Nutrition Food (MBG) program.

Thomas explained that reducing the budget for the infrastructure sector does not mean that infrastructure development is a second priority.

On the other hand, the government will encourage more collaboration with the private sector to ease the burden of the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN).

"That infrastructure is reduced in terms of budget, that does not mean that infrastructure is seconded. Only how, not how, only the strategy is that there will be private sectors called PPP, KPBU, such patterns that want to be implemented," he said.

Thomas added that the APBN should be used for long-term programs and cannot receive funds from commercial channels, such as the quick win program which includes MBG, free health checks, school renovations, food security and improvement of national food barns.

According to him, the main priorities this year are important programs that are indeed the responsibility of the government.

For infrastructure, you can find solutions by utilizing private investment to reduce the burden on the state budget.

Thomas also emphasized that the programs in the quick win are non-commercial, so it is the responsibility of the government, because it cannot rely too much on the private sector.

"Quick win is all non-commercial items. Who is the role there? The government. We don't expect the private sector here, that's the government's job," he added.

Therefore, Thomas emphasized that reducing the budget for the infrastructure sector is a restructuring of the state budget. "It doesn't mean that what was wrong before, but now we can do that (restructuring)," he said.

Previously, the Minister of Public Works (PU) Dody Hanggodo said that the government's 2025 infrastructure budget was detained by the Minister of Finance (Menkeu) Sri Mulyani Indrawati. This is based on the direction of President Prabowo Subianto.

"So, actually we (for the project) in 2025 just have to work, right. However, because of the direction of the President (Prabowo Subianto), then all the main budgets related to temporary infrastructure in the star (detained) first," said Dody to reporters at the PU Ministry office, Jakarta, Monday, November 18.

Dody said the budget detention was waiting for the ministry/institution to sit down together to plan development.

"We have to re-discuss with all stakeholders, such as the Ministry of Bappenas, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Religion, and others, so that later any program that is charged to us to work on has indeed been discussed carefully with related institutions," he said.

According to him, currently the budget in the Ministry of Public Works will be focused on running the astacita program made by President Prabowo Subianto, especially related to food security and so on.

"Actually, we need to talk again with the President (Prabowo). Information to him that with all our ministries we have spoken and these are indeed his priority programs," he said.

Even so, he said not all infrastructure budgets in 2025 were detained by Sri Mulyani.

Because, said Thomas, more than 90 percent of the PU Ministry's infrastructure budget next year includes payments for multi-year contracts or projects that have been running for several years.

"I also just found out because I, right, new people here, new kids on the block. I just found out that 90 percent plus our budget has been committed for a long time, a year, two years, three years. So, now (2025) just pay, it's just a matter of completion (a project that's already running), that's all," he said.