Purbaya Ensures Minimal State Budget Portion in Whoosh Debt Repayments

Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa will minimise the portion of the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN) used to pay debt instalments for the Whoosh high-speed rail project.

However, he declined to give details on the instalment scheme to be applied. He made the remarks to journalists at the Ministry of Finance office in Jakarta on Thursday (23 July 2026).

“Even though the APBN is under the government, we will reduce as much as possible the APBN funds used to pay for Whoosh, but it will be managed by us,” said Purbaya.

Purbaya previously said the mechanism for settling KCIC’s debt had already been determined. However, its implementation will only proceed once KCIC is handed over to the Ministry of Finance.

“As for the scheme, we are waiting to see when it is given to me, then we will sort it out. But it is already clear how it will be settled,” Purbaya said at the Presidential Palace complex on Wednesday (15 July 2026).

Purbaya said he had received instructions from President Prabowo Subianto to resolve KCIC’s debt. He assured, however, that a special scheme had been prepared that would not necessarily rely on APBN funds.

“KCIC is currently still under Danantara, and it will later be handed over to me, because the President has ordered us to sort it out. But it does not have to use the APBN — I have a particular scheme in which there are tools and vehicles outside of what currently exists that can handle KCIC,” he said.

He further stressed that the takeover of KCIC has already been decided. The administrative process is currently under way at Danantara, although he could not confirm when the takeover would be completed.

“The administrative process is ongoing. It has actually been decided — the decision has been made, only the administrative process is still running. Once the Danantara side is cleared and completed, we will then report back to the President,” he explained.