JAKARTA - Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa revealed that President Prabowo Subianto instructed to place state cash funds totaling Rp. 400 trillion in the State Bank Collection (Himbara) to strengthen banking liquidity.
Purbaya explained that the policy was taken after the government had withdrawn part of the Surplus Budget Fund (SAL) which had previously been placed in Himbara to be returned to Bank Indonesia (BI).
"Now Rp170 trillion (plus Rp30 trillion), reversed again to Rp200 trillion. (Later) add Rp100 trillion, add Rp100 trillion (again). This is also at the direction of the President, he wants the economy to go," he said in a press conference, Friday, June 26.
For information, since September 2025 to early 2026 the government has placed SAL funds of around Rp300 trillion in Himbara. However, some time ago the government received instructions to withdraw around Rp200 trillion from the fund.
"So two weeks ago I received instructions (to withdraw). It has started a little bit (to be withdrawn)," he explained.
After the government and BI reached an agreement to place the SAL funds back at the central bank with a higher remuneration rate, the Ministry of Finance began to gradually transfer the funds, from a total of around Rp300 trillion, the government has withdrawn around Rp130 trillion so that the funds left in Himbara are now around Rp170 trillion.
However, according to Purbaya, the withdrawal actually caused the liquidity of the red plate banks to become tighter and admitted to receiving requests from the Himbara ranks that the government should not withdraw all state cash funds placed in the banks.
"Rp200 trillion at the request of several parties to ask to withdraw, we withdraw. Apparently it's dry, there's no more source of money. So we take it again (from BI put it back in Himbara)," he explained.
He added that the liquidity condition of Himbara began to be depressed after government funds were transferred to BI, so the government decided to return the placement of state funds in Himbara so that the liquidity condition would be adequate again.
"The problem with Himbara is that there is a lack of liquidity. I told them that I would return the government's money to Himbara," he said.
In the long term, Purbaya said the government will maintain the placement of funds of Rp200 trillion in Himbara, and will be added by Rp100 trillion, accompanied by flexible funds of around Rp70 trillion to Rp100 trillion.
"Now it's Rp170 trillion (plus Rp30 trillion), turned into Rp 200 trillion, plus another Rp100 trillion until the end of the year is fixed. The flexible one that we can enter and exit can add Rp70 trillion to Rp100 trillion again," he explained.
With this scheme, the total government funds placed in Himbara are estimated to reach around Rp. 400 trillion.
Purbaya assessed that the placement of government funds in Himbara is an important instrument to maintain the distribution of credit to the real sector.
He admitted that he had received criticism when he transferred SAL funds to BI, but after banking liquidity tightened, the government decided to change the policy.
"I asked (SAL in Himbara) to take it, but it turned out that I couldn't fill it (credit and other instruments had already been distributed). Well, panic (Himbara), just come back to me (Himbara complained). Someone said my steps were wrong. It turns out that it is the only engine for economic growth at this time. So we turned it back (government funds to Himbara)," he said.
According to Purbaya, the additional liquidity in Himbara is expected to be able to lower interest rates in the market, increase credit distribution, and ultimately accelerate economic growth.
"So there is enough liquidity in our banking sector, so interest rates in the market should fall, the economy will run again," he said.
However, Purbaya ensured that the government's cash position at Bank Indonesia remained safe and currently the government's cash balance still reached around Rp590 trillion.
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