INDEF Economist Slams Imprecise Criticism from Prabowo Camp

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (INDEF) economist Bhima Yudhistira Adhinegara refuted the opposition’s critic aimed at the debt management of the current government.

Through Twitter, the Prabowo Subianto – Sandaiga Uno campaign spokesman Gamal Albinsaid tweeted an infographic on ten state-run enterprises that are in a large amount of debt, which according to him highlights the government’s mismanagement.

His Twitter post was accompanied by this tweet; “This is not about numbers, it’s about being wounded, the wounds of my Indonesia. I’m saying this because I understand how difficult of a task that would face us all in the future,” Gamal tweeted through his personal account @Gamal_Albinsaid on Saturday.

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According to Bhima Yudhistira, Gamal’s criticism is far from being relevant since it was based on state-run enterprises in the banking industry.

“The large debts in state-owned banks actually reflect a safe amount of liquidity,” said Bhima to Tempo on Tuesday, January 8. He explained that it is meant to be channeled across the credit industry.

Furthermore, Bhima suggested the economist team from the Prabowo – Sandiaga Uno camp to do their research before criticizing. He said that non-financial and financial state-operated enterprises must be separated to determine whether the debts go to a third party financing company or into corporate debt.

CAESAR AKBAR