Deputy Chair of Commission II Expresses Optimism Regarding Prabowo's Message on Rupiah Exchange Rate
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Deputy Chair of Commission II of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), Bahtra Banasting, stated that President Prabowo Subianto’s speech in Nganjuk, East Java, conveyed a message of optimism regarding the controversy surrounding the rupiah’s exchange rate against the US dollar. Speaking in Jakarta on Monday, he noted that the President aims to foster confidence in the strength of the national economy amidst global pressures.
He assessed that President Prabowo’s speech was clipped, failing to present the full context, which has led to social media narratives suggesting the President considers the dollar’s exchange rate unimportant to the national economy. “The ‘framing’ that the President does not understand the impact of the dollar on the economy is clearly incorrect and unfair. If heard in its entirety, the President is inviting the people not to panic because Indonesia’s economic fundamentals are strong,” said Bahtra.
He emphasised that President Prabowo fully understands global economic dynamics, including the impacts of trade wars, geopolitical uncertainty, and the pressure on the currencies of developing nations. “The President does not want the people to be burdened by excessive fear. His message is simple: do not panic easily, and do not feel that Indonesia will collapse due to global pressures. We possess significant domestic economic strength,” he added.
He further explained that the statement “villagers do not use dollars” was a simplified way of communicating that the grassroots economy continues to move and endure, supported by the domestic real sector. “This means our people’s economy has resilience because it relies on domestic production and consumption,” he said.
According to Bahtra, President Prabowo is currently pursuing a major agenda for national economic independence, including industrial downstreaming, food self-sufficiency, energy security, the strengthening of ‘Red and White’ village cooperatives, national industrialisation, and the enhancement of domestic production capacity.
He noted that pessimistic narratives constructed by certain parties regarding the national economic condition have the potential to weaken public confidence and market psychology. “In difficult global situations, this nation needs optimism and self-confidence. President Prabowo is building that spirit. Do not allow every statement to be clipped and used as political propaganda,” he stated. Consequently, he urged the public to view the President’s speech holistically, objectively, and substantively, rather than through misleading snippets. “President Prabowo is delivering a grand message that Indonesia must believe in its own strength, stand on its own feet, and continue moving towards national economic independence,” he concluded.