Purbaya Ready to Evaluate Director General of Customs After Prabowo's Rebuke

Jakarta — Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa said he was prepared to evaluate the Director General of Customs and Excise (Dirjen Bea Cukai) if he receives a direct order from President Prabowo Subianto. He made the remarks in response to Prabowo’s statement that the leadership of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC) should be replaced immediately if unable to make improvements. ‘Earlier, if the work isn’t right, they should be axed? We’ll see. If that’s the order, I will carry it out. I can’t run away from orders, but I will check first,’ Purbaya told reporters at the DPR building, Jakarta, on Wednesday, 20 May 2026. However, Purbaya merely laughed and did not offer further comment on the performance of his subordinates. Previously, in a plenary session of the DPR, President Prabowo Subianto urged Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa to replace Bea Cukai leadership immediately if they are deemed unable to work swiftly and responsively. Prabowo said this when giving directions about government services to the public. ‘I remind you again for the umpteenth time, Bea Cukai must be improved. Finance Minister, if the Bea Cukai leadership is not capable, replace them immediately,’ Prabowo said. On that occasion, Prabowo also called on all ministries and agencies to purge their bureaucracies of corruption and abuse of power. He said government officials should not hesitate to take action against those who break the rules. He added that the government must be able to eliminate corruption practices and various obstacles hindering the national economy. Prabowo also admitted he still receives many reports from businessmen about illegal levies (pungli) in bureaucratic services. Therefore, he stressed that the government must be brave to reform all institutions to be more professional and corruption-free.