Celios Views Delay in APBN Press Conference as Limiting Information

The Center of Economic and Law Studies (Celios) views the postponement of the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget Performance and Facts (APBN Kita) press conference as a sign that public access to budget information is becoming increasingly limited. According to Celios, regular information on state revenue performance, expenditure, and government debt financing is key to public trust.

Celios Economics Director Nailul Huda stated that the delay indicates the government is concealing the APBN situation from the public at large. “The decision to postpone further drives the Indonesian economy towards uncertainty because information is becoming limited,” he said in a written statement on Friday, 1 May 2026.

Celios Executive Director Bhima Yudhistira added that delaying the APBN Kita press conference will instead lead investors to speculate on fiscal performance. He believes this situation will damage market confidence in the government’s fiscal policy management. He urged the government to be transparent, regardless of the circumstances.

Celios also stated that when the government does not routinely explain the APBN situation, the space for public oversight becomes increasingly limited. “This is dangerous, especially amid pressures from the weakening rupiah exchange rate, chaotic use of budgets for strategic projects like Free Nutritious Meals, Red and White Village Cooperatives, and global uncertainties due to the Iran war,” said Celios Public Policy Director Media Wahyudi Askar.

Previously, the Ministry of Finance scheduled the APBN Kita press conference for Wednesday, 29 April 2026. However, the press conference was cancelled. The Ministry then published the APBN Kita materials via its official website on Thursday, 30 April 2026.

However, that publication was later withdrawn because the Ministry of Finance rescheduled the press conference to still be held. “Previously, we apologise for temporarily taking down the Press Release and APBN Kita Slide Materials for the March 2026 period, as the APBN Kita Press Conference will be held on Wednesday, 6 May 2026,” read the statement from the Bureau of Communication, Services, and Information of the Ministry of Finance General Secretariat on Thursday evening, 30 April 2026.

Previously, the Ministry of Finance also announced the postponement of the Financial System Stability Committee (KSSK) press conference, originally scheduled for 30 April 2026. The Ministry of Finance expressed apologies but did not explain the reason for the delay or when the KSSK press conference would be rescheduled.

Tempo attempted to confirm this decision change with the Head of the Bureau of Communication and Information Services, Deni Surjantoro, but received no response until this article was written.