Purbaya on Reshuffle Rumours: I Don't Know

Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has spoken out regarding rumours that he will be affected by a cabinet reshuffle and moved to lead the Ministry of Investment and Downstreaming (BKPM).

Reluctant to comment further, Purbaya claimed he had no knowledge of the circulating information regarding a change in his cabinet position. “I don’t know,” Purbaya said briefly after a meeting with Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia at the Ministry of Finance office in Jakarta on Tuesday (11/8).

This is not the first time Purbaya’s name has been mentioned in reshuffle speculation. When previously asked about his name being in the running for Governor of Bank Indonesia before Destry Damayanti was officially appointed as the sole candidate, Purbaya stated he was content with his current role. “I am already grateful to be here,” Purbaya said after a Financial System Stability Committee (KSSK) press conference at the Indonesia Deposit Insurance Corporation (LPS) office on Monday (3/8).

Also present, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia responded to the reshuffle rumours. He confirmed that the issue was not discussed during his meeting with Purbaya. “We did not discuss that at all,” Bahlil stated. “Our duty as ministers is to assist the President. The matter of a reshuffle is the President’s prerogative… we below must not make any additional moves. Do not think, let alone act, beyond the limits of the authority given,” he asserted.