Prabowo's Instruction: PNM Mekaar Interest Rate to Drop from 24 Percent to Below 9 Percent

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - President Prabowo Subianto has instructed that the interest rate for the Permodalan Nasional Madani (PNM) Mekaar programme be reduced from 24 percent to below 9 percent. “This is a political decision; I have already taken it that the interest for Permodalan Nasional Madani, for credit to pre-prosperous families, from 24 percent, we must lower it to below 10 percent, must be below 9 percent,” stated Prabowo at the Attorney General’s Office building in Jakarta on Wednesday (13/5/2026). Prabowo then highlighted the inequality in financing access, which has burdened micro-business actors with higher interest rates compared to large entrepreneurs. “Meanwhile, large entrepreneurs, if they go to the bank, might get 10 percent, 9 percent. Yes, Mr Rosan, how much? 9 percent? Imagine, the rich get 9 percent, the poor get 24 percent. This is a Pancasila state; I don’t understand,” he said. According to him, the state must not allow small communities to bear a heavier financing burden than upper economic groups. “Continuously, we will study where our system is weak, where our shortcomings are, and we will fix them. Our benchmark is Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution, and not just slogans. We want to realise a situation that is truly in line with them,” stated Prabowo. Besides the policy of lowering credit interest rates, Prabowo also emphasised the importance of regulatory reform and accelerating business permitting. Prabowo asked all ministries and institutions to reduce bureaucratic barriers that have been deemed to slow down investment and business activities. Prabowo requested the State Secretary Minister (Mensesneg) Prasetyo Hadi to form a special task force for deregulation to simplify various overlapping regulations. Prabowo affirmed that entrepreneurs who work correctly must be given full support to create jobs and strengthen the national economy. “Believe me, soon our funds will be sufficient. In fact, with just this kind of allocation, we can already do a lot, and we will do more than this,” added Prabowo.