Political Science Lecturer from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Brawijaya (UB), Dr. Abdul Aziz S.R. gave three notes related to the 100 days of Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka’s leadership, on Friday (11/4/2025).
According to Dr. Aziz, there are several tendencies that are not in accordance with public expectations since the inauguration of President Prabowo Subianto. First, the formation of a large cabinet is different from the promise of efficiency that was given. “A fat cabinet and efficiency are two things that do not meet,” he said.
Dr. Aziz emphasized that a large cabinet requires a large budget. However, to achieve efficiency, the budget must be adjusted. Misguided routine budgets have an impact on the development budget (investment). Routine spending for the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program, for example, has sucked up a huge budget. “The impact is that the budget that will be used for development spending (investment) will be greatly reduced,” he explained.
The second point highlighted is the negative market response to government policies. The increasingly low and weakening rupiah exchange rate against the US dollar is one indication. In recent days, the rupiah exchange rate against the US$ has been at Rp17,000. This is worse than the end of the New Order era. This shows that the market is not sure and does not trust the Prabowo government. “The rupiah exchange rate continues to be weaken and plunge, especially after the government inaugurated the Danantara super holding,” said Dr. Aziz.
Danantara, an institution instructed to manage assets from State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN), but in the form of money. The money will later be used to finance government projects and investments. This is actually controversial. “And, the market also reads this as something uninteresting, unpromising. The market does not show any signs of optimism about the government’s policy,” Aziz added.
The third point highlighted is the inconsistency between President Prabowo’s words and actions. For example, some time ago, the President said that he would not and should not import any type of commodity. However, not long afterward he instructed his ministers to import, even with the tagline of no quota. “This shows a similar behavioral pattern to the previous president, Joko Widodo. Just copying and pasting President Joko’s patterns,” he said.
Dr. Aziz also highlighted that Indonesia will face an economic crisis or at least a financial crisis in the near future. On the one hand, the state budget is very minimal, even minus, on the other hand there is an obligation to pay interest on debt of around 700-800 trillion rupiah. Of course this is very difficult. “At the same time, the state budget is very drained by ambitious and misguided policies in the form of MBG. Also the cost of super jumbo government management,” said Aziz.
Finally, Dr. Aziz emphasized that if the economic conditions do not improve or worsen, it will certainly have an impact on political stability (and also social stability). “Therefore, the government must be careful, and needs to immediately evaluate its counterproductive economic policies,” concluded Dr. Aziz. (AND/UB PR/ Trans. Iir).
