Finance Minister Purbaya scheduled to depart for Hajj pilgrimage on 21 May

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has stated his plan to travel to the Holy Land to perform the Hajj pilgrimage on Thursday (21/5), if no obstacles arise. “Thursday (21/5), if there are no hindrances,” Purbaya said at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, on Monday.

Purbaya noted that he has been preparing for the pilgrimage for the past two weeks, including studying the necessary prayers for the rituals. “Hajj preparations began two weeks ago; I have been studying, but I still forget some of the prayers,” he remarked.

Prior to this announcement, Purbaya attended a limited meeting (ratas) alongside several economic ministers, led by President Prabowo Subianto, at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Monday afternoon. Other officials in attendance included Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia, Minister of Investment and Downstreaming Rosan Roeslani, and Governor of Bank Indonesia Perry Warjiyo.

Following the meeting, Purbaya confirmed that various measures are being taken to help stabilise the rupiah exchange rate, including more active involvement in the bond market. The government plans to implement a Bond Stabilisation Fund scheme using available budgets. When asked about the volume of funds, Purbaya stated he is requesting Rp2 trillion to enter the bond market daily. “We still have several avenues; it is merely a matter of cash management. Therefore, it is not an issue,” Purbaya explained regarding the source of the funds. He noted that the circulation of money in the bond market is projected to drive positive sentiment, which typically encourages foreign capital inflows.