Prabowo Responds to Rupiah Weakening: People in Villages Don't Use Dollars!

Prabowo Responds to Rupiah Weakening: People in Villages Don’t Use Dollars!

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - President Prabowo Subianto has spoken out regarding the weakening of the Rupiah against the US dollar, which has now reached a record low of Rp 17,600/US$. Despite the Rupiah’s sharp decline, Prabowo dismissed negative perceptions about Indonesia’s economy, which some have predicted will worsen.

“I am confident that there are always those who constantly say ‘Indonesia will collapse, will be in chaos’… But the people in villages don’t use dollars,” Prabowo said during the inauguration of the Marsinah Museum in Nganjuk, East Java, on Saturday (16 May 2026).

Although the Rupiah has reached its lowest level, he is optimistic that the situation in Indonesia remains stable, both in terms of food and energy security, even though many other countries are panicking.

“Food is secure, energy is secure, many countries are panicking, but Indonesia is still doing okay,” he said.

On a different occasion, Prabowo explained that Indonesia’s economy is being well managed by Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa. According to him, as long as the Finance Minister is smiling, the public does not need to worry.

“As long as Purbaya can smile, just stay calm, there’s no need to worry. No matter how many thousands the dollar reaches, you in the villages don’t use dollars,” Prabowo said during the inauguration of 1,061 Merah Putih Village/Urban Cooperatives, Saturday (16 May 2026).

He also assured that Indonesia’s fundamental economic conditions are strong, even though the weakening of the Rupiah clearly has an impact on those who conduct transactions using dollars.