Airlangga: BI's function to safeguard rupiah continues after Perry Warjiyo's resignation

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto has assured that Bank Indonesia (BI) will continue to function as the institution responsible for maintaining rupiah exchange rate stability and setting monetary policy, following the resignation of Perry Warjiyo from his post as BI Governor. “What is important is the institution. And the BI institution continues to carry out its function of maintaining the exchange rate and monetary stability,” Airlangga told reporters at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs office in Jakarta on Monday. When asked further about the candidate for BI governor, Airlangga urged the public to await further developments. He confirmed that he had not yet received the name of a candidate to replace Perry Warjiyo. Following Perry Warjiyo’s resignation, the post of BI Governor is temporarily held by BI Senior Deputy Governor Destry Damayanti. “We monitored it from the media this morning,” Airlangga said when asked whether he had prior knowledge of Perry Warjiyo’s resignation. Airlangga also confirmed that the coordinating ministry he leads conducts regular coordination with fiscal and monetary officials. On Monday morning, Bank Indonesia announced the voluntary resignation of Perry Warjiyo from his post as BI Governor, citing personal reasons. The resignation was tendered on Saturday (25/7). Subsequently, BI, through a Board of Governors Meeting on Sunday (26/7), appointed BI Senior Deputy Governor Destry Damayanti as Acting BI Governor. At a press conference in Jakarta on Monday, Destry stressed that Indonesia’s central bank continues to prioritise good and professional institutional governance, and will maintain synergy and coordination with the government in carrying out its duties and mandate. “Bank Indonesia always ensures the continuity of its duties and authority to achieve rupiah stability, maintain payment system stability, and help safeguard financial system stability in order to support sustainable economic growth, which can create a conducive economic environment for real sector growth and job creation in accordance with the BI Law,” Destry said. On the same occasion, Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi stated that President Prabowo Subianto had accepted the resignation of BI Governor Perry Warjiyo and would follow up in accordance with the mechanisms stipulated in the Bank Indonesia Law. Prasetyo said the government officially received Perry’s resignation letter on Sunday (26/7). According to Prasetyo, President Prabowo accepted the resignation while expressing appreciation for Perry’s seven years of service leading the central bank. He also said the government would immediately follow up on the administrative process for Perry’s honourable discharge through the issuance of a Presidential Decree as stipulated in the legislation.