Wijayanto Samirin: How To Communicate The Minister Of Finance Purbaya Must Be Softer

Eddy Wijaya and economist at Paramadina University, Wijayanto Samirin, (Doc Eddy Wijaya)

JAKARTA The economist at Paramadina University, Wijayanto Samirin, reminded the Minister of Finance (Menkeu) Purbaya Yudhi Sadives to maintain his way of communicating in commenting on statements from high-ranking state officials and policies of other institutions.

He assessed that the criticism comments that were often made by the Minister of Finance, Purbaya, before this could damage his relationship with elites in Indonesia so that he did not get support for his performance.

"What we have to protect and must continue to remind Pak Purbaya so that he is successful is the support of other elites, other ministers, SOEs, because they are partners to work together. Criticizing policies is okay, but in my opinion, the method must be softer and there are several things that should be discussed in a closed room," Wija said while talking to Eddy Wijaya on the EdShareOn podcast which aired on Wednesday, October 15.

According to Wija, a Minister of Finance is an important official who must maintain synergy with policy makers so that state financial problems such as taxes and the target of the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN) can run normally.

The Minister of Finance in a team is like a striker. If the tax revenue is not achieved, he will be scolded. If the state budget deficit exceeds the target, he will be blasphemed. If the spending is not right on target, he will be blasphemed. Well, he (Menkeu) can make that happen when the other ministers, the governors, move synergically," he said.

Minister of Finance Purbaya is often in the public spotlight due to his controversial comments in responding to suggestions or criticisms from various parties.

For example, when responding to the statement by the Chairman of the National Economic Council (DEN) Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan regarding the withdrawal of the Free Nutrition Food (MBG) budget.

He also had a chance to intersect with the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia after being mistaken in revealing the price of LPG and BBM gas subsidies that should have been accepted by the public.

Not to mention the comments of the Minister of Finance Purbaya who said that the Chancellor of Paramadina University, Didik Junaidi Rachbini, needed to learn again when Didik criticized the placement of government funds of Rp200 trillion to the State Bank Association (Himbara).

Wija said officials have their respective backgrounds that must be considered before the Minister of Finance Purbaya made a comment, so as not to become polemic and even offend feelings.

"So it must be reduced attacks or statements to other ministers. Anyway, this bureaucracy contains people, not robots, not computers, They have preferences, there are emotions and feelings. But I see that he (Menkeu Purbaya) will learn quickly," said the Chairman of the Paramadina University Foundation.

However, the Economic Advisor to the Governor of DKI Jakarta 2019-2022 explained that the Minister of Finance Purbaya, who replaced Sri Mulyani Indrawati, managed to get support from the community.

This makes the position of Minister of Finance Purbaya even more beneficial because he does not need to seek the support of others when implementing a policy.

"In the context of Mr. Purbaya, of course, we hope that this high hope from society can be realized someday. But the fact that he brings fresh air, that many people provide support, positive response is extraordinary capital," said Wija.

Therefore, Wija hopes that Minister of Finance Purbaya will be more careful in conveying his comments, especially those related to the performance of other state officials.

"I'm sure, I saw for myself that he (Menkeu Purbaya) wanted to learn, so the spontaneous statements began to decrease. And I hope that in the future there will be more internal discussions with other elites so there will be no need for discretion in the public," he said.

A Number Of National Programs Are Like 'fat Passengers' In The Fiscal Room

Paramadina University economist, Wijayanto Samirin, likens a number of flagship programs by the Central Government to 'fat bus passengers' who monopolize fiscal space in the 2025 State Budget.

According to him, the flagship program has suppressed other government programs so that they experience budget cuts.

Suddenly a fat passenger entered to fill the fiscal room, and even then stepped on the other passengers. The fat person yes, MBG's expensive priority programs (for example) were Rp335 trillion, then the village cooperative which was Rp240 trillion even though it was a loan, then the 3 million house program, as well as the TNI budget, the police budget that swelled," Wija told Eddy Wijaya.

The economist who was born in Yogyakarta, August 21, 1971, explained that the government program whose budget was cut was the impact of the flagship program, such as National Education and Regional Transfer Funds (TKD).

This sparked protests from various observers including education practitioners to regional heads.

"So education in the context of the 'bus' was one of the depressed passengers," said Wija. "Including 18 provinces whose governor came to Pak Purbaya (to criticize TKD cuts)," he said.

Wija explained, this problem is complicated by the severity of fiscal conditions this year due to the decline in the community's economy.

In which case, the fiscal space from the APBN is in the range of 10 to 11 percent of total spending, or around Rp370 trillion.

This year's fiscal situation is tough. So until August (2025) state revenues fell by around 7 or 8 percent compared to the same period last year. This means that this is an abnormal situation," he said.

In fact, Wija explained, the fiscal space can be used by the government for the progress of the country with various creative programs.

"This fiscal room can be used by the government to innovate, do creative things, to increase competitiveness, respond to global competition and out of the box programs, and so on," said the Independent Commissioner of Indosat Ooredoo Hutchinson (IOH).

Who Is Eddy Wijaya Really, Here's The Profile

The figure of Eddy Wijaya is a podcaster who was born on August 17, 1972. Through the @EdShareOn YouTube account, Eddy interviewed many national figures ranging from state officials, legal experts, political experts, national politicians, to Indonesian celebrities. The man with the characteristics of the right cheek dimple is also a nationalist who is a struggling activist for discriminated and social observers by helping the community through the Wijaya Peduli Bangsa foundation.

He is also active in the field of sports by serving as Daily Chair of the All-Indonesian Horseed Sports Association (Pordasi) Pacu and has also served as Deputy Chairperson of the All-Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) East Jakarta.

Eddy also serves as the Advisory Board for the Social Association of Marga Chinese Indonesia, the 2022-2026 term of service. His ideas were formed because of his hard work to be independent from the age of 13 to the success of today.

For Eddy, the world of work is not as smooth as imagined, failure and rejection are common. That's what makes him hold on to the tagline 'Success is only a matter of time'. (ADV)