Anies Criticises the Government's Stance as the Rupiah Weakens

Former DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has criticised how the government is handling the economy as the rupiah weakens against the US dollar. The rupiah had fallen to a record low, trading at IDR 17,667 per US$1 on Monday, 18 May 2026. Anies explained that the rupiah has now fallen to an all-time low. This means Indonesia’s economy is far from fine. The cost of essential goods is rising, job opportunities are shrinking, household purchasing power is weakening, and savings are being eroded. ‘And this affects the livelihoods of many people,’ he said in a video posted on his Instagram account @aniesbaswedan on Wednesday 20 May 2026. Anies argued that in such difficult circumstances, what the market and the public most need is certainty born of transparency and honesty. Unfortunately, according to him, what is offered by the state apparatus is the opposite. He said the government often hides the true, allegedly negative, situation, while presenting a soothing façade sprinkled with sweeteners. ‘Data is selective; only the good is shown, the bad is hidden,’ he said. Moreover, the former presidential candidate in the 2024 election criticised officials who frequently make comments that seem to trivialise this critical situation. The policies adopted are often inconsistent. Anies argued that such conduct confuses the market, causing many investors to hold back, and some to even flee. At the same time, leadership by example is also lacking. ‘While citizens are asked to tighten their belts, the government is preoccupied with things that are not priorities. Wasteful spending on top, belt-tightening below. This looks like insensitivity,’ he said. For Anies, the deteriorating state of Indonesia’s economy cannot be hidden or denied by any means. Domestic economists and even international financial institutions have been quick to forecast the looming downturn if not corrected soon. Anies said it is unlikely that that many economists could be wrong at the same time. Therefore, he urged the government to simply acknowledge the reality and then reform together to find the best solutions. ‘I call on the government to stop feeding the public sleeping pills. Open up the data as it is, state the problems honestly, and provide clear and consistent policy directions,’ he said. Finally, the Universitas Gadjah Mada alumnus urged the public to prepare for the worst of all possible risks. He noted that hard times lie ahead—from sustained economic pressure, to threats from extreme weather, to escalating geopolitical tensions. ‘Of course we must remain optimistic that we can get through all of this. As long as we walk with our eyes open, not with made-up illusions,’ he said. Earlier, when the rupiah weakened to 17,600 per US dollar on 15 May, President Prabowo Subianto said that the currency’s depreciation does not directly affect rural communities. Prabowo urged people not to worry too much about the rupiah’s movements against the US dollar. According to the former Defence Minister, Indonesia’s conditions remain safe compared with other countries, particularly in the food and energy sectors. He responded calmly to concerns about the rupiah’s weakness because villagers do not use foreign currencies in daily life. ‘The rupiah is like this, the dollar like that. People in rural areas do not use dollars, do they?’ he said at the inauguration of the Red and White Village Cooperative in Nganjuk, East Java, on Saturday, 16 May 2026. He also presided over the inauguration of the Marsinah Museum in Nganjuk, East Java, on Saturday, 16 May 2026.