Merah Putih Bond Discussed at MPR, Ibas Stresses Importance of Accountability
Deputy Speaker of the MPR from the Democratic Party Faction, Edhie Baskoro Yudhoyono (Ibas), has emphasised the importance of building national investment instruments. This step is considered necessary to strengthen domestic capital mobilisation while supporting sustainable development financing.
According to Ibas, the spirit of economic mutual cooperation (gotong royong) must be realised through credible and productive instruments. The goal is to increase public confidence in national development.
“Geopolitics influences investment flows. Global interest rates also determine the entry or exit of capital. Therefore, Indonesia must continue to strengthen its economic competitiveness,” Ibas stated on Wednesday (24/6/2026).
The statement was made by Ibas while opening the National Discussion Forum themed ‘Gotong Royong and Merah Putih Bond’ at the MPR RI Complex in Senayan, Jakarta.
The Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Singapore graduate assessed that Indonesia remains a promising investment destination in the region. Amid global uncertainty, Indonesia has a significant opportunity to attract capital seeking long-term growth stability.
However, Ibas cautioned that this opportunity must be accompanied by structural reforms to strengthen the business climate. Future investment must be directed towards productive sectors such as manufacturing, energy, and the digital economy in an equitable manner.
In the context of development financing, Ibas assessed that the idea of Patriot Bonds or Merah Putih Bonds could serve as an alternative to strengthen domestic capital. These instruments are designed not merely to attract funds into the country, but to keep them productive.
He stressed that the implementation of such instruments must be built on the principles of accountability, legal certainty, and good governance in order to gain public trust.
Professor Euis Amalia from the Faculty of Economics and Business at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta also highlighted the potential of the Merah Putih Bond in mobilising funds towards the Golden Indonesia 2045 vision. She emphasised the importance of independent audits and the application of anti-money laundering principles so that this instrument provides real benefits to the real sector and MSMEs.
Similar views were expressed by Fortis Capital Founder David Noah and legal expert Dr. Andrew Betlehn. Both agreed on the importance of legal certainty, the formulation of a comprehensive roadmap, and the principles of good governance for investors. Meanwhile, Tommy Hendharto Oetomo from P3KPI reminded attendees of the need for clarity in asset reporting mechanisms.
The forum was also attended by several members of the Democratic Party Faction in the DPR RI. Responding to the input received, the Head of the Commission XI Faction, Marwan Cik Asan, stated that academic perspectives are very important as input for the formulation of government regulations.
Commission XI member Hillary Brigitta Lasut added that all this input will be overseen by the DPR RI to ensure that the derivative regulations align with the principle of public protection. Wahyu Sanjaya expressed a similar sentiment, noting that the success of this instrument depends heavily on its public communication and transparency.
Closing the forum, Ibas invited all stakeholders to continue building optimism for the future of the national economy through collaboration.
“Let us be optimistic yet critical together. Indonesia has a great opportunity to continue growing and become a developed country. What is needed is trust, collaboration, and shared commitment,” Ibas concluded.