Purbaya Makes Prabowo Laugh, Claims There Are Those Undermining the Rupiah

President Prabowo Subianto was made to laugh by Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa during a full Cabinet session held at the State Palace in Jakarta on Friday (13 March 2026).

The moment occurred when Purbaya briefed Prabowo that there were parties claiming the rupiah’s exchange rate against the US dollar was collapsing.

However, during the period when conflict between Iran and the United States and Israel erupted, he stated that the rupiah’s exchange rate had only depreciated by 0.3%.

“Some say the rupiah has collapsed. But if we’re being honest, Sir, during every conflict the rupiah only depreciates by 0.3%,” Purbaya told Prabowo.

Purbaya then suggested that the parties undermining the current level of the rupiah’s exchange rate were people without money, whilst wealthy individuals viewed the rupiah’s condition as highly resilient. This statement by Purbaya made Prabowo laugh.

“So actually our resilience is good. The real players, those with genuine money, say it like this. But those without money are the ones bad-mouthing it, Sir,” Purbaya said.

The statement also prompted Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya to speak, asking who was speaking in the manner that Purbaya described.

Purbaya responded by saying, “Ha ha… there are some, Sir”.