Prabowo urges finance minister to replace Customs chief if slow

Jakarta - President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, has asked Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa to replace the leadership of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise if they are deemed unable to work swiftly.

In a DPR RI plenary meeting at the Nusantara Building, Parliament Complex, Jakarta, on Wednesday, Prabowo emphasised that the government must root out corruption, abuse of power, and practices that hinder the economy.

“Our Customs service must be improved. Finance Minister, if the leadership of Customs cannot act swiftly, they should be replaced,” he said in front of more than 400 DPR RI members and several state officials.

He assessed that the government must work quickly and not be slow in delivering public services and in bureaucratic reform.

“We must dare to reform all our institutions. We must continue to build a strong government that is not corrupt,” he added.

Prabowo cited that illicit levies continue to be a complaint among businesspeople and are seen as hindering the development of industry in Indonesia.

“Entrepreneurs complain that they experience far too many extortionate practices,” he said.

The President also called for the DPR RI’s support in the fight against corruption and abuse of power to strengthen governance and national development.

Therefore, President Prabowo urged all DPR members to actively engage with the government in joint efforts to eradicate corruption and abuse of power.

“This is for all of us. This is for our future. This is for our children and grandchildren. We must become a great nation. We do not want to remain a weak country forever,” Prabowo said.