Purbaya Speaks Candidly on Prabowo's Overseas Travel Expenses

Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa admitted he could not answer in detail the uproar over President Prabowo Subianto’s overseas official travel expenses, including the excess costs borne by Prabowo personally. He said the matter had been fully addressed by Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya. “I can’t answer that question, Mr Teddy has already explained, we hold to Mr Teddy’s statement, there are no rules on it,” Purbaya said at his office in Jakarta on Friday (5/6/2026). Even so, Purbaya considered it perfectly reasonable for the Head of State to spend personal money to cover overseas official travel costs. “If I have money, then I go, then suppose I top up the difference, is that not allowed? Logically, it’s fine if you want to top up,” Purbaya stressed. He also confirmed that the head of state’s official travel costs are certainly budgeted in detail within the State Budget (APBN), as stipulated in Finance Minister Regulation (PMK) Number 66 of 2020. However, the details are confidential. “There is definitely a budget. Do you want to see the president’s secrets? Well, that’s not allowed. We know the figure. Just ask the State Secretary if you want a definite answer,” he said.