DPR Member: Perry's Successor Must Safeguard Independence and Productivity

A member of the House of Representatives (DPR), Azis Subekti, has stated that the definitive successor to Bank Indonesia (BI) Governor Perry Warjiyo must be able to maintain the central bank’s independence and credibility while ensuring conditions support increased national productivity. Azis said in Jakarta on Monday that the priority in the leadership transition is maintaining public and market confidence that the independence and continuity of monetary policy are preserved. The government has received Perry Warjiyo’s resignation letter for personal reasons. Deputy Senior Governor Destry Damayanti is currently acting as interim governor until a definitive appointment is made. Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi said President Prabowo Subianto has not yet decided on a replacement candidate, as the resignation letter was only received by the government on Sunday. Azis noted that the appointment of the next BI Governor holds strategic significance, occurring amidst global economic uncertainty, exchange rate pressures, supply chain shifts, technological developments, and intensifying investment competition. He emphasised that the definitive governor must continue to prioritise rupiah stability, inflation control, payment system stability, and financial system stability. However, Azis added that this stability must also serve as a foundation for boosting productive investment, industrial value-added, national competitiveness, and job creation. ‘Stability is not an end in itself. For a country undergoing economic transformation, stability must be the starting point for increasing productivity,’ he said. He clarified that this orientation does not mean adding a development mandate to the central bank, but rather ensuring Bank Indonesia continues to exercise its authority professionally, based on data, and free from short-term political interests. Azis called for orchestration between monetary, fiscal, industrial, real sector, and technology development policies, as well as human resource quality improvement. He said BI’s policy mix in monetary, macroprudential, payment system, and financial market deepening areas can create a more conducive environment for productive financing. He expressed hope that the definitive BI Governor will possess integrity, technocratic competence, experience in navigating economic turmoil, and a commitment to maintaining the central bank’s independence.