Purbaya Grilled by DPR Over Fund Placement in Himbara Banks, Here's His Response

Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa received criticism from House of Representatives (DPR) Commission XI Deputy Chairman Dolfie Othniel Frederic Palit of the PDIP faction regarding the placement of excess budget balances (SAL) in Himbara banks. During a working meeting with Commission XI, Dolfie questioned the current amount of SAL held in the state-owned banks. Purbaya responded that the total had reached approximately Rp400 trillion. He explained that around Rp200 trillion was placed for 2025, and when the government’s funds at Bank Indonesia swelled to nearly Rp600 trillion, he decided to place an additional Rp200 trillion into the banking system. The placement tenors vary, with Rp200 trillion placed until the end of 2026, Rp100 trillion for three months, and another Rp100 trillion available for flexible placement to ensure sufficient liquidity in the system. A heated exchange ensued when Dolfie argued that such placements require DPR approval, which the government had not sought. Purbaya countered that approval was unnecessary as the funds were merely transferred from Bank Indonesia to state-owned banks. Dolfie insisted that under the 2026 State Budget Law, parliamentary consent is mandatory, clarifying that approval must be given in a formal meeting with official minutes, not through individual consultations. Purbaya ultimately accepted the explanation and stated he would study the matter further, maintaining that the decision was made with good intentions.