Adding Debt Is Not A Solution, AHY Offers 4 Solutions To Increase Economic Growth

Democratic Party Chairman Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono/PHOTO: Nailin In Saroh-VOI

Chairman of the Democratic Party, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) emphasized that adding debt is not a solution in realizing government programs. AHY also offered four ways that could be a solution to increase national economic growth.

AHY initially mentioned that the money campaign period was used as an appointment event by pairs of presidential and vice-presidential candidates or legislative candidates. According to him, candidates are competing to promise various programs to the people but rarely discuss how to increase state revenues to finance the promised programs.

AHY assessed that if state revenues were not added, it would be difficult for the elected president and vice president to finance the program that was carried out. He also warned the next government not to finance the program using debt.

"Financing state spending through increasing debt is not a sustainable solution. Moreover, the previous COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to increase our debt," AHY said in a closing political speech ahead of the voting day for the 2024 General Election, at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC), Central Jakarta, Tuesday, February 6.

AHY said that the addition of state revenues must rely on increasing tax revenues and non-tax state revenues. However, the method is not to increase tax rates.

"The right and sustainable solution is to encourage state revenue through efforts to increase national economic growth," said the son of the 6th President of the Republic of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY).

AHY emphasized that Indonesia's economic growth must be boosted to 6'7 percent. Therefore, the Democratic Party proposed four ways that must be taken as a solution to increase economic growth and increase state income.

First, increasing consumption by maintaining inflation levels and encouraging economic redistribution. Second, increasing investment by improving the national business climate and competitiveness. Third, focusing government spending on productive sectors that can create jobs. Fourth, increasing Indonesia's export value by implementing downstream policies or processing natural resources (SDA) in the country.

According to AHY, the economic growth strategy will be easier to realize if the presidential and vice presidential candidate pair number 2, Prabowo-Gibran, succeeds in becoming president-vice president in 2024-2029. In addition, he said, the Democratic Party must also get more seats in parliament in order to oversee the Prabowo-Gibran government in the future.

"Therefore, with all humility, we ask for prayers of support for the Democratic Party and Prabowo-Gibran to realize our ideals," said AHY.