Gerindra Party spokesperson and Deputy Chairman of Commission II of\nthe House of Representatives, Bahtra Banong, believes that President\nPrabowo Subianto\u2019s speech regarding villagers not using dollars has not\nbeen fully understood by the public. Bahtra explained that Prabowo\u2019s\nstatement was intended to ensure that the community does not panic\nregarding the rupiah\u2019s weakness against the dollar.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe President\u2019s speech was clipped to just one sentence, then framed\nas if the President does not understand the impact of the dollar on the\neconomy. That is clearly incorrect and unfair. If heard in full, the\nPresident is inviting the people not to panic because Indonesia\u2019s\neconomic fundamentals are strong,\u201d Bahtra said in a statement on Monday\n(18\/5\/2026).<\/p>\n
Bahtra explained that Prabowo fully understands global economic\ndynamics, including the impacts of trade wars, geopolitical uncertainty,\nand the pressure on the currencies of developing nations. However, he\nnoted that Prabowo has a responsibility to maintain public psychology\nand build national optimism.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe President does not want the people to be burdened by excessive\nfear. His message is simple: do not panic easily, and do not easily feel\nthat Indonesia will collapse due to global pressures. We possess\nsignificant domestic economic strength,\u201d he asserted.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, Bahtra assessed that the statement \u2018villagers do not use\ndollars\u2019 was Prabowo\u2019s way of using simple communication to illustrate\nthat the economy at the grassroots level continues to move and endure\nbecause it is supported by the domestic real sector.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis means our people\u2019s economy has resilience because it relies on\ndomestic production and consumption,\u201d added Bahtra.<\/p>\n
Bahtra emphasised that the current Prabowo administration is\nimplementing a major agenda for national economic independence,\nincluding programmes such as industrial downstreaming, food\nself-sufficiency, energy security, the strengthening of the \u2018Merah\nPutih\u2019 village cooperatives, national industrialisation, and increasing\ndomestic production capacity.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe core of the President\u2019s speech is that Indonesia is moving\ntowards economic independence. We are strengthening downstreaming,\nincreasing exports, reducing import dependency, and building national\nproduction strength. Many of the government\u2019s priority programmes are\nbased on domestic strength, not dependence on the dollar,\u201d he\ncontinued.<\/p>\n
According to Bahtra, the narrative of pessimism being constructed by\ncertain parties regarding the national economic condition has the\npotential to weaken public confidence and market psychology.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn a difficult global situation, this nation needs optimism and\nself-confidence. President Prabowo is building that spirit. Do not let\nevery statement be clipped and used as material for political\npropaganda,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Bahtra urged the public to view Prabowo\u2019s speech in its entirety,\nobjectively, and substantively, rather than through misleading narrative\nfragments.<\/p>\n
\u201cPresident Prabowo is delivering a grand message that Indonesia must\nbelieve in its own strength, stand on its own feet, and continue moving\ntowards national economic independence,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n
Prabowo previously spoke about the rupiah exchange rate against the\nUS dollar (USD) continuing to weaken, breaching the Rp 17,500 mark. He\nnoted that the rupiah exchange rate remains under control, given that\nFinance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa is still able to smile.<\/p>\n
\u201cPurbaya is very popular right now. As long as Purbaya can smile,\njust be calm, there is no need for you to worry. No matter how many\nthousands the dollar reaches, you in the villages do not use dollars,\u201d\nsaid Prabraswo during the inauguration of ,1062 Merah Putih Village\nCooperatives, as quoted from a YouTube broadcast by the Presidential\nSecretariat on Saturday (16\/5).<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gerindra-explains-context-behind-prabowos-remark-that-villagers-do-not-use-dollars-1780913524", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }