Dasco on Chatib Basri-Luhut Visit to Palace: Providing Input to the President

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR) Sufmi Dasco Ahmad stated that the visit of National Economic Council (DEN) Chairman and DEN member Chatib Basri to the Presidential Palace was to provide input to President Prabowo Subianto regarding the economy. Dasco confirmed that he had sought confirmation from the palace about the meeting. “So, the National Economic Council today provided input to the President on matters relating to economic growth strategies,” Dasco said at the parliamentary complex in Jakarta on Tuesday (9/6). Dasco said the input from the DEN would assist the president in taking necessary steps. “In addition, the president also analyses from the existing economic team, and this positive input, in my opinion, is valuable for the president for our economic growth,” he said. Dasco stated there was no other discussion during the meeting. He made this statement in response to questions about Chatib’s arrival amid speculation that he would replace Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati. “In my view, the meeting was purely to provide input on how to further increase economic growth. I have just confirmed, there were no other discussions,” he said. He noted that in recent days there have been issues whose sources of truth cannot be verified. “But I have just confirmed that today’s meeting was purely to receive input from the National Economic Council, chaired by Mr Luhut with Mr Chatib Basri as a member,” he said.