Purbaya 'Happy' Fishing
Many people feel as though they have lost their entire world after losing their position. Conversely, some feel they have regained their sleep.
Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa belongs to the second group. At least, that was his statement to journalists a day after Prabowo Subianto removed him from his position as Finance Minister without any prior notice.
“Happy, free,” said the former Finance Minister. He expressed hope that he could sleep more peacefully that night, as his mind had been constantly haunted by work and policy issues during his tenure.
Now, having ceased to be a minister—or rather, the state treasurer—he wishes to return home. He plans to fish for tilapia in the pond behind his house and enjoy his retirement.
When journalists attempted to tease him with the possibility of occupying other positions, such as returning as a minister or becoming the Governor of Bank Indonesia, Purbaya declined. He simply wants to go fishing.
There is a hint of humour in his bluntness. Someone who has just left a significant seat is not discussing a comeback strategy, but rather the fish in his pond.
However, behind that joke lies a sentence worth reflecting upon: a minister may feel relieved after leaving office, but the policies they left behind do not retire with them.
It is known that Purbaya was dismissed by President Prabowo Subianto on 14 September 2026. He was replaced by Suahasil Nazara, who had previously served as his deputy.
The replacement occurred while Purbaya was still performing his duties, including participating in the 2027 State Budget (APBN) discussions. The government has not provided a detailed explanation regarding the reasons for his dismissal.
As the official reasons remain unclear, the space for speculation has been filled with various possibilities. Some suspect it relates to his relationship with Bank Indonesia, a reshuffle of Ministry of Finance officials, or the controversy surrounding the Daya Anagata Nusantara Investment Management Agency, known as Danantara.
The Danantara issue is particularly noteworthy as it involves significant sums of money. In late August, Purbaya stated that Danantara would deposit Rp120 trillion into the State Budget.
According to him, these funds would enter as Non-Tax State Revenue (PNBP) within the 2026 State Budget, specifically under the ‘other PNBP’ category. He also noted that this figure was a decision made by President Prabowo Subianto.