IKN Development Short Of Funds, Amien Rais Reminds Jokowi To Become President Only 30 Months Left, Don't Add Debt

President Jokowi at the 2021 National Coordination Meeting and Investment Service Award at the end of 2021. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Syuro Council of the Ummat Party, Amien Rais, asked President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) not to increase the country's debt to foreigners. This was conveyed during the 1 Year Anniversary of the Ummah Party.

Because, said Amien Rais, Jokowi's position as President is only 30 months away. Therefore, he views that Jokowi does not need to add to the burden of state debt which currently has reached thousands of trillions of rupiah.

"You only have 30 months as President. Try not to add any more debt and serve the interests of the Indonesian people themselves, not the interests of the oligarchs who are more oriented towards serving foreign interests," said Amien Rais, Sunday, April 17.

Given Indonesia's accumulated debt, Amien Rais also suggested that Jokowi delay the construction of the State Capital (IKN) in the Archipelago, East Kalimantan. Because, moving the capital city requires a very large budget.

"IKN development that is short on funds should be stopped first. Don't be reckless. Don't go backwards (embarrassed to stop)," he said.

Previously, the Minister of Finance (Menkeu) Sri Mulyani gave a response related to the condition of government debt which currently has penetrated IDR 7,014.58 trillion.

In a virtual press conference of the Financial System Stability Committee (KSSK), the state treasurer revealed that the government continues to make efforts to strengthen the structure of the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN) as well as economic recovery measures.

"The condition of Indonesia's debt, I say, continues to carry out fiscal consolidation in order to maintain the health of our state budget," he said on Wednesday, April 13.

According to the Minister of Finance, Indonesia is a country that is quite good at managing finances. He then compared this condition with a number of other countries in the region which he considered to be facing a much more difficult situation than Indonesia.

"Our debt ratio is relatively low whether measured by ASEAN countries, G20 countries or even the whole world," he concluded.