Economy Grows Fast – Uproar; Slow – Uproar, Purbaya: What Do They Want?

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa appeared annoyed in responding to the numerous criticisms from the public regarding Indonesia’s economic conditions.

The criticisms primarily relate to the economic growth rate in the first quarter of 2026, which managed to grow by 5.61%. In public discourse, Purbaya said, many criticised the high growth rate as being due to a low base effect from the same period last year.

“So if the numbers are bad, there’s uproar; if the numbers are high, there’s uproar. So what do the economist friends want?” Purbaya said at his office in Jakarta on Monday (11/5/2026).

The realisation of economic growth in the first quarter of 2025 was indeed recorded by the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) as only growing 4.87% year-on-year. However, Purbaya emphasised that in the fourth quarter of 2025, the growth rate had already accelerated to 5.39%, indicating that the first quarter of 2026 continues the growth momentum from the end of the previous year.

According to him, the first quarter 2026 growth rate has actually received praise from abroad. Therefore, he expressed bewilderment as to why domestically there is a focus on criticising the increasingly rapid economic growth.

“Abroad appreciates us,” stressed the former Chairman of the Indonesia Deposit Insurance Corporation (LPS).