New Finance Ministry Secretary General Urged to Address State Revenue Leakages
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Economic observers are urging Robert Leonard Marbun, the new Secretary General of the Ministry of Finance (Sekjen Kemenkeu), to address leakages in state revenue.
In his statement in Jakarta on Sunday, economist, currency, and commodities expert Ibrahim Assuaibi assessed that Robert is the right person with a wealth of experience. One of the challenges he will face is dismantling long-standing practices that erode state revenue.
Robert’s appointment is viewed not merely as a routine rotation of positions. The presence of global geopolitical pressures makes this role key to maintaining national fiscal stability.
“Purbaya’s desire is for someone with proven experience in the field. The Secretary General is the minister’s right-hand man. That’s where its strategic position lies. Especially now that global conditions are unstable, with rising oil prices, fiscal pressures will certainly be felt,” said Ibrahim.
According to him, the most crucial issue lies domestically, particularly in customs, at trade entry points such as ports and airports. Ibrahim highlighted customs mafia practices that are still rampant and difficult to eradicate, as the many ‘gates’ in the distribution chain weaken oversight.
“The biggest problem is at the ports. There are many leakages. This is no longer a secret. Even from experience and discussions with former officials, it’s indeed the most difficult there,” he stated.
He explained that the patterns occurring tend to be systemic. When one route is monitored, other routes continue to operate. Even in many cases, these practices are carried out collectively.
“One gate closed, another gate operates. This is already done in groups. So it’s not about one or two people, but the system that needs to be fixed,” he emphasised.
Ibrahim is optimistic that if the new Secretary General can improve governance, especially in the customs and tax sectors, the impact on state revenue will be significant.
“If this can be fixed, the potential for an increase in tax revenue is huge. But if not, it will stagnate as usual,” he remarked.
On the other hand, the new Secretary General’s success will also depend heavily on his ability to control internal bureaucracy, particularly in building integrity at all levels. According to him, the organisational culture in the ministry is very much determined by the leadership.
Meanwhile, economist from the Center of Economic and Law Studies (Celios), Nailul Huda, stated that Robert Leonard Marbun is the right choice as a working partner for Finance Minister Purbaya.
“I do not doubt Mr Robert’s capabilities with all his experience at the Ministry of Finance and BKPM,” he expressed.
Robert Leonard Marbun is indeed known for his background as an academic figure in economics and public policy.
His career began at the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC) as an Analyst in the Supervision and Law Enforcement Field in 2011, culminating in his appointment as Director of International and Inter-Agency Customs in 2016.
His career then soared when he was appointed as Special Staff for State Revenue Policy at the Ministry of Finance by Finance Minister Sri Mulyani in 2018. He also served as Special Staff for Institutional Relations at the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) in 2024.
Nailul assessed that the new Secretary General of the Ministry of Finance should focus more on the internal side to improve civil servant governance.
“With his position as Secretary General, I do not see his role in addressing geopolitical challenges. The Secretary General’s role at the Ministry of Finance is more internal than external,” he said.
As is known, in the Ministry of Finance’s structure, the Secretary General has a central role in human resource management. This position holds the database and track record of all employees within the ministry.
With that function, the Secretary General plays an important role in the selection and nomination process for officials from various Directorates General. Every nomination can be tested based on track record, integrity, and competence of the proposed officials.
This role makes the Secretary General the primary filter in ensuring that officials occupying strategic positions are the right individuals with high integrity.